India PM Narendra Modi details fasting routine
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(NewsNation) — Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India is opening up about his deep Hindu faith, which he describes as a way of life, and divulging his fasting routine and how it helps him govern over a billion Indians.
In a new interview on the 'Lex Fridman Podcast,' Modi says fasting, which is deeply rooted in ancient Hindu scripture, is a form of self-discipline that elevates the body, mind and soul.
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'For me personally, even while I go about doing my daily activities during a fast, my mind remains deeply introspective and focused inward, and that experience is profoundly transformative for me,' Modi said.
Modi said he began fasting as a child, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, who encouraged the nation to take part in one-day fasts to protest British colonial rule.
'Something inside me said, 'I should be part of this,'' he said. 'I felt neither hunger nor any desire for food. Instead, I felt a new awareness, a surge of energy within me.'
The 74-year-old, who rose from humble beginnings to lead the world's largest democracy, describes fasting as a powerful spiritual tool that goes beyond skipping meals. He says the practice even enables him to do more than he usually does.
'When I need to express my thoughts, I'm amazed at where they come from and how they flow,' Modi said.
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During the monsoon season, which lasts about four months, the leader says he eats a single meal within 24 hours since the digestive system slows down. During the religious festival to honor the goddess Durga, Modi fasts for nine days, eating only one specific fruit, papaya.
Modi says he's been fasting for about 50 years.
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