RE: "It is not about fasting but about coming closer to the Lord"
'Fasting' is one of the 'tools' that we use,
to come closer to the Lord.
Also, 'fasting' helps us to achieve
mastery over physical impulses; also reducing the
metabolic activities of the body; allowing the
mind to concentrate more freely on the object of our devotions.
Another tool is quiet surroundings. I think Thakurji or Swamiji once said: "One cannot meditate at the crossroads of a busy highway" [inexact quote]
Of course, activities, such as 'fasting', must be carefully managed. One must have adequate nourishment, especially when leading an active life in the modern world.
