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[[Saint]]s and [[Mysticism|mystics]] in a variety of religious traditions often voluntarily keep long vigils for the purpose of self-denial of the body, and to seek visions of transcendent reality or personal experiences and revelations of God. The [[India|Indian]] prince [[Siddhartha Gautama|Siddhartha Gautama the Buddha]] in his search for enlightenment had [[fasting|fasted]] and kept extended vigils to such an extreme over a period of years that his spine was visible through the skin in the front of his abdomen. He reached the conclusion that such severe methods do not bring one closer to spiritual freedom or enlightenment.

[[Saint]]s and [[Mysticism|mystics]] in a variety of religious traditions often voluntarily keep long vigils for the purpose of self-denial of the body, and to seek visions of transcendent reality or personal experiences and revelations of God. The [[India|Indian]] prince [[Siddhartha Gautama|Siddhartha Gautama the Buddha]] in his search for enlightenment had [[fasting|fasted]] and kept extended vigils to such an extreme over a period of years that his spine was visible through the skin in the front of his abdomen. He reached the conclusion that such severe methods do not bring one closer to spiritual freedom or enlightenment.

St. Paul cautioned against such practices in his letter to the [[Colossians]] 2:23. He himself frequently kept vigils of prayer for the church ([[2 Corinthians]] 11:27).

St. Paul cautioned against such practices in his letter to the [https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Colossians%202%3A23 Colossians (2:230]. He himself frequently kept vigils of prayer for the church ([https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/2Corinthians%2011%3A27 2 Corinthians 11:27]).

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