In general, we need to keep cleanliness and purity. We need to organise our food well, keep clean and keep our purity. Then we practice perfect meditation. You should do the right meditation, not a meditation that just makes your mind relaxed. So that is Upavāsa. Chanting mantras, strict fasting and keeping the same time to do your practice. When you do serious practice, you will also count the seconds until the exact time and then you will start your practice. This practice is very focused. People do it for one month, for 40 days or for one year. They will not cut their nails, shave their beards and cut their hair. Whether they are in a cave, ashram or at their own place they will not step out from there. That is Upavāsa, the essence of fasting. Upavāsa is not fasting and fasting is not Upavāsa. But in English, it is translated that way because no other word in English to translate it other than fasting. (Darmayasa)
