“Instead of destroying and appropriating to himself nourishment taken from outside, man enters a state of nonviolence and detachment relative to the outside world.”
The quote by Adalbert De Vogue highlights the idea that by practicing nonviolence and detachment, individuals can disconnect themselves from the external world and find peace within themselves. This shift in perspective allows individuals to let go of their need to destroy or take from others, fostering a sense of harmony and inner contentment.
The emphasis on nonviolence suggests a rejection of aggression and harm towards others, promoting a sense of compassion and understanding. By detaching oneself from the material world and external influences, individuals can focus on their inner selves and cultivate a sense of unity with the world around them. This quote underscores the importance of finding peace within oneself rather than seeking it externally.
In today's fast-paced world filled with consumerism and materialism, Adalbert De Vogue's quote about achieving nonviolence and detachment from the outside world holds significant relevance. This idea encourages individuals to shift their focus from constantly seeking external sources of validation and fulfillment to cultivating inner peace and contentment. Through embracing nonviolence and detachment, one can find a sense of balance and harmony despite the chaos of the external world.
"Instead of destroying and appropriating to himself nourishment taken from outside, man enters a state of nonviolence and detachment relative to the outside world." - Adalbert De Vogue
Adalbert De Vogue suggests that by practicing nonviolence and detachment, we can reduce our impact on the outside world. Reflect on the following questions to consider how you may apply this concept to your own life:
“In fact, according to physicians, the functioning of the digestion depends less on the brain than on hormonal mechanisms and autoregulators. However, during a fast, the digestive system gets an increasing rest. About ten hours after a meal, the contractions stop and the feeling of hunger disappears; five or six hours later the glucose stops coming directly from the intestines and begins to produce itself from the reserve of glycogen contained in the liver. From then on, the body works on itself in a closed circuit, becoming itself the source of the energy it uses. Instead of destroying an appropriating to himself nourishment taken from outside, man enters a state of nonviolence and detachment relative to the outside world.”
“The discrepancy between the modern observance and the prescriptions of the Rule had struck me ever since the novitiate, and no satisfactory explanation had ever been given to me. People said that man had changed: the weakness of people's health no longer allows us to fast. Was it true?”
“In the afternoon the digestion of the meal deprives me of the incomparable lightness which characterizes the fast days.”
“. . .fasting gives me singularly happy afternoons.”
“When a person eats shortly before going to bed, digestion accompanies sleep. The two great physiological functions are completed together, leaving the maximum of freedom to the mind during the day.”
“When I walk in the forest just before the meal, while reciting the scriptural phrase that I "meditate" for that day, spiritual joy comes over me as if by appointment.”