in the
hearts of all that are in heaven and on earth, that law is naught but
manifest justice. The fears and agitation which the revelation of this law
provoke in men's hearts should indeed be likened to the cries of the
suckling babe weaned from his mother's milk, if ye be of them that
perceive...'

"The fasting period, which lasts nineteen days starting as a rule from the
second of March every year and ending on the twentieth of the same month,
involves complete abstention from food and drink from sunrise till sunset.
It is essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual
recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary
readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the
spiritual forces latent in his soul. Its significance and purpose are,
therefore, fundamentally spiritual in character. Fasting is symbolic, and
a reminder of abstinence from selfish and carnal desires."

72: FAST (THE)

"Regarding your question concerning the Fast: Travellers are exempt from
fasting, but if they want to fast while they are travelling, they are free
to do so. You are exempt the whole period of your travel, not just the
hours you are in a train or car, etc. If one eats unconsciously during the
fasting hours, this is not breaking the Fast as it is an accident. The age
limit is 70 years, but if one desires to fast after the age limit is
passed, and is strong enough to, one is free to do so. If during the Fast
period a person falls ill and is unable to fast, but recovers before the
Fast period is over, he can start to fast again and continue until the
end. Of course the Fast, as you know, can only be kept during the month
set aside for that purpose."

73: FEAST DAY (CHANGING OBSERVANCE OF)

"This is really a matter of secondary importance, and should be decided by
the Assembly. Meetings which have been publicly advertised for a certain
date cannot obviously be cancelled."

74: FEAST (NATURE OF)

"Concerning the nature of the Nineteen-Day Feast, in the Aqdas,
Baha'u'llah clearly revealed the spiritual and social character of this
Institution. Its administrative significance, however, has been stressed
by the Guardian in direct response to the growing needs of the Baha'i
Community in this formative period of the Baha'i era for better training
in the principles and practice of Baha'i administration."

75: NAW-RUZ FEAST (OBSERVANCE OF FEAST DA