Answer
In the beginning, it’s wise to build determination gradually. Start with what is simple and realistically achievable. When you successfully complete it a few times, that success gives the mind confidence—and confidence strengthens determination. With that foundation, you can naturally move to the next level. Step by step, this steady progression allows one to eventually reach higher stages.
At the same time, it’s important to understand that in practices like fasting, fasting itself is not the main element—it is secondary. The real purpose is to increase remembrance of Krishna. Devotees minimize bodily demands so that more time and energy can be directed toward spiritual absorption.
Consider how much of our day is spent in bodily activities—eating, preparing, cleaning, resting. By fasting, these demands are reduced. Instead of spending long periods in such routines, one keeps things simple—perhaps taking something light—and frees up valuable time.
That time becomes especially meaningful on festival days. These are opportunities to engage more deeply in service, to contribute enthusiastically, and to immerse oneself in devotional activities. For full-time practitioners, this is particularly important—they strive to remain available, energetic, and ready to serve. This kind of disciplined engagement is a form of higher control, not deprivation.
On regular observances like Ekadashi, the time saved can be invested in chanting more rounds or studying scriptures like the Srimad Bhagavatam. If regular days feel constrained, these occasions act as “spiritual boosters”—a chance to go deeper, recharge, and strengthen one’s practice. Over time, these repeated boosts nourish determination and help sustain steady progress in Krishna consciousness.
