PASSIO

In 19th Century America, many young women would survive over long periods of time without consuming any food. These women claimed to have special religious or magical powers. At the time, these were seen as miraculous. These were the daughters of the Bourgeoisie who could afford to abstain from work. Some researchers state that these fasts were a silent rebellion due to lack of emotional freedom. This was the girls' way of wreaking "polite" havoc.

The Discipline of a Buddhist monk is refined and is intended to be conducive to the arising of mindfulness and wisdom. This code of conduct is called the Vinaya. While it is not an end in itself, it is an excellent tool, which can be instrumental in leading to the end of suffering. Buddhism offers man a simple moderate lifestyle eschewing both extremes of self-deprivation and self-indulgence

A standing yogi or standing baba is a Hindu who has vowed to stand, not sit, or lay down (even to sleep). This is a form of Hindu Tapa, a self-inflicted punishment in order to reach spiritual enlightenment. Some claim the vow lasts twelve years, others claim the vow lasts a lifetime. For the first five to ten years of constant standing, their legs begin to swell. Blood moves  sluggishly in exhausted veins, and muscles thicken. Their legs become huge, bloated out of recognizable shape and covered with purple varicose boils. Their toes squeeze out from thick, fleshy feet. Their legs gradually become thinner, and thinner. Eventually, only the bones remain, with a paint-thin veneer of skin and the termite trails of withered veins. Years of standing causes ulcerated feet and leaves the Babas permanently disabled. 

Saint Simeon was a Syriac ascetic saint who achieved notability for living 37 years on a small platform on top of a pillar. He was the first and probably the most famous of the long succession of stylitoe, or "pillar-hermits". he Prepared by enduring the whole of Lent without eating or drinking. This became his regular practice. He then combined it with the mortification of standing continually upright so long as his limbs would sustain him.

Saint Veronica is not mentioned in the Bible, but is known to us by Catholic tradition and in the Sixth Station of the Cross, "Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus." When she was 37, Veronica received the stigmata. She would fast for three days at a time. On Fridays, she consumed only five orange seeds in memory of the five wounds of Christ.

Vision quests are a rite of passage among some Native American cultures. The purpose of vision quests are to find one's purpose in life. It is an arduous journey into the core of one's being. One journeys into the wilderness, fasts, and drinks no water. It is stated that when fasting the mind becomes more alert and dreams become more vivid. One must endure any weather conditions that may occur and does not return until they have received their vision from the spirits. These sights are then interpreted by the elders in their community.