Water rule for ekasana (one-meal discipline)

• General idea: When you observe ekasana, you usually take your meal once in the day, and the water rules are tied to that single meal. In many traditions:

- Water is allowed only with the ekasana meal. - Some stricter forms permit water only with the meal and none before or after it. - Another common guideline is to avoid drinking water after sunset during the ekasana period.

• Differences by tradition:

- Shwetambar ekasana: one meal in daylight; many households allow only boiled water with the meal, and some stricter practices allow water only with the meal and not before/after (and often no water after sunset). - Digambar ekabhukta: typically stricter; ideally water (if any) is taken only once, with the meal, and not after the meal or after sunset. - In all cases, the aim is self-control, ahimsa, and spiritual focus, not mere dieting.

• If you’re unsure which rules your community follows, check with your guru or local sangh for the exact practice you should follow.

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