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Ekadasi means feasting, not fasting

Gargamuni Dasa: In the beginning, in 26th second Avenue, on Ekadasi days, we always thought it was supposed to be a fast day. So practically I think maybe I was the only one who…I did not come for lunch on those days, I would fast. At least until the evening time. I thought I would become spiritually advanced, you know. I invented my own philosophy, I manufactured, you see. We should always discuss between the spiritual master and disciple before we do anything, but not manufacture our own service, so I didn't discuss that with Prabhupada. I just didn't show up.

So on the second or third Ekadasi, Prabhupada asked, “Where is Gargamuni?” So they got me and brought me to Prabhupada, and he said, “Ekadasi means feasting, not fasting, so you come on Ekadasi and you feast.” And practically, Ekadasi in those days was a feast because we had preparations that we didn't have during the week, different kinds of chutneys, fruit salads, potatoes with sour cream, so many nice preparations, tomato chutney, Prabhupada made, pineapple chutney and raisin chutney and all these different types of chutneys which were very good with potatoes, so it was a feast, so I stopped fasting on Ekadasi.
 



Reference: SPF Interviews