tamhonkhoe.comCourses · Body · Course TT4 · Not started
Fasting in the traditions (described)
Ramadan, Yom Kippur, Lent and the Buddhist eight precepts: described, not taught.
Planned outline. These lessons are not published yet. Lesson titles and passages may change during writing and review.
| For | Adults learning on their own |
|---|---|
| Length | 4 weeks · Reading |
| Level | 4 |
| Status | Not started |
| Publishing | Needs a reviewer from within the tradition |
| Expected | 2028 |
Plan: 4 weeks
| Week | Lesson | Passages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ramadan | Qur'an 2:183–185 |
| 2 | Yom Kippur | Leviticus 16:29–31 |
| 3 | Lent | Matthew 4:1–2 · Matthew 6:16–18 |
| 4 | The eight precepts | AN 8.41 |
What science finds
- 11 studies, 1,436 people: stress and anxiety scores were lower after Ramadan than before, but most studies had no control group. (Berthelot et al. 2021, Nutrients 13(11) · source)
- Review: Ramadan’s effect on mental health is generally small, but people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder have a higher risk of relapse. (Heun 2018, Global Psychiatry 1(1) · source)
Limits, honestly
The traditions themselves exempt the sick, pregnant women, children and travellers. The course only describes; it does not teach fasting.
Stop practising if
Stop or shorten practice and talk to a professional if you notice: rising anxiety or panic; low mood that lingers; feeling that you or the world is ‘not real’; flooding memories of trauma; several nights of poor sleep; hearing or seeing things others do not; thoughts of harming yourself. People with a history of psychosis, bipolar disorder or severe PTSD should ask a doctor before practising more than 20 minutes a day.