The Philosophy of Alimentary Freedom: A Buddhist Ethical Analysis of Technologies of the Self and Sovereign Well-being

Abstract

This article re-conceptualizes food consumption as a form of "Ethical Praxis," challenging the reductionist paradigm that categorizes eating as a mere biological function. By employing the Buddhist philosophical framework of "Technologies of the Self," the study investigates how Bhojane Mattaññutā (Moderation in Eating) serves as a vital instrument for self-governance and ontological liberation. The analysis reveals that contemporary health crises and compulsive consumption signify an "Ontological Surrender" to instinctive cravings. Through the application of Yoniso Manasikāra (Systematic Reflection), the act of consumption is transformed into a cognitive strategy aimed at neutralizing the "old predicament" (Biological Suffering) and preempting "new pathological emergence." The findings assert that refined consumption constitutes a process of "Ontological Refinement," liberating the physical self from instinctive bondage and establishing a fundamental prerequisite for advanced meditative states (Samādhi) and wisdom (Paññā). Ultimately, this "Praxis of the Self" represents the authentic foundation of well-being within the Buddhist ethical landscape, where the body is mastered as a vehicle for spiritual transcendence.