Fasting is not merely a method of spiritual practice

By Victor M Fontane

Fasting is not merely a method of spiritual practice but a direct path to observing the arising and cessation of desire and experiencing the attachment to the Five Aggregates. During fasting, practitioners, when confronted with hunger and thirst, should observe their desires with clarity—neither repressing them nor succumbing to them—aligning with Buddhist teachings that reveal the fundamental nature of attachment driven by karmic forces. Contemporary scientific research has also found that individuals who practice systematic fasting exhibit significantly reduced activation in the brain's reward pathways when exposed to food, aligning perfectly with the Buddhist emphasis on "freedom from craving." Regular practitioners of fasting tend to have thicker prefrontal cortices than non-practitioners, and their brainwave activity displays heightened states of awareness, thereby providing scientific evidence supporting the enhancement of concentration and mindfulness among practitioners. These intertwined contexts reveal the profound nature of fasting as a "laboratory of desire": hunger, initially a physiological response, becomes an exceptional opportunity to intuitively recognize the attachment to the Five Aggregates. When the body signals hunger, the practitioner does not allow the impulse to "eat" to dictate their actions; rather, they mindfully discern whether this is a need for energy or a craving for pleasure. The Buddhist concept of the "Five Aggregates" (form, feeling, perception, volition, consciousness) is thus embodied: the hunger associated with "feeling" stimulates "perception" (the images of food), which in turn triggers the "volition" (desire to act). If practitioners can observe the arising and cessation of their desires without repression or indulgence, they can grasp the profound truth of "all phenomena are impermanent, and all dharmas are devoid of a self": desires are like waves—present at times and absent at others—lacking an eternal subject. 

Although the language of science and the insights of Buddhism differ, they converge on one essential fact: the awareness and moderation of desire can reshape the structure and function of the brain. The reduced activation of the reward pathways in regular practitioners of fasting indicates a gradual dulling of the "craving response" to food (and other sensory stimuli). The thickening of the prefrontal cortex is correlated with improved decision-making and heightened awareness, which represents the neural basis of "mindfulness." Furthermore, the highly aware brainwave states (such as alpha and theta waves) directly correspond to the meditative states characterized by "focused and undistracted" attention. Fasting serves as a concentrated form of training; the true practice lies in extending the habit of "mindfully observing the body's needs" to every meal and every reaction to sensory stimuli. For example, when eating, one should focus on the taste and texture of the food rather than the pleasure of "feeling full." Upon noticing the emergence of hunger, practitioners should differentiate between "the body's need for nutrition" and "the mind's desire for satisfaction." They might even observe the "impermanence" of desire—just a moment ago craving sweets, after taking a bite, one may find it overly sweet. This very shift highlights the dynamic nature of desire, while attachment represents the true bondage. 

The cultivation of such awareness ultimately points to the realization of "self-benefit and altruism." When a person diminishes their attachment to food through fasting, they gain a deeper understanding of how "attachment leads to suffering." As they cultivate increased awareness and experience a lighter and more peaceful life, they can serve as an exemplar of a lifestyle embodying "contentment with fewer desires." This cycle of "self-evidence leading to altruism" represents a modern interpretation of the Buddhist spirit of "self-benefit and altruism"—the dissemination of the power of awareness is a profound benefit to all sentient beings. Broadly speaking, major world religions utilize fasting for spiritual refinement, reflecting a common human need: regardless of one's faith, humans seek to transcend the constraints of desire in pursuit of inner peace. Fasting, as a concrete practice of "moderation," fundamentally acts as a warning against "excess"—excessive eating, excessive pursuit of pleasure, and excessive dependence on sensory stimuli. Such "excesses" diverge from "purity." In contrast, "purification" results from fasting: the body expels accumulated metabolic waste, while the mind frees itself from the entanglements of desire, moving toward the "shore of ultimate liberation." 

Consequently, the awareness gained by practitioners not only benefits themselves but also inspires and benefits a wider community. 

Through continuous practice, attachment gradually lessens, wisdom naturally increases, leading ultimately to a liberated state of mind and body. Practically speaking, observing bodily needs mindfully while eating—rather than succumbing to mere appetitive cravings—treats the sensation of hunger as a meditative object, directly confronting bodily responses, gradually adjusting eating habits toward contentedness with fewer desires, and simultaneously observing the transient nature of appetite, transforming it into a resource for spiritual growth. By integrating body awareness with an understanding of the principles of the Dharma during the fasting process, practitioners can discern the subtle changes in their physical and psychological states, facilitating an intrinsic recognition of the impermanence of desire. They can experience a sense of contentment and gradually diminish dependence on food and sensory stimuli. In this way, fasting transforms not just into a means of individual spiritual practice but becomes a bridge connecting science and Buddhism, self-benefit and altruism, the present moment and liberation—it teaches us that liberation is not found in a distant realm, but in the mindful observation of every instance of hunger and every thread of desire in the present moment; wisdom resides not in textbooks, but in every moment of "witnessing the arising and ceasing of desire." As we utilize fasting as a mirror reflecting the essence of desire, we are gradually led toward the fulfillment of "freedom and ease of body and mind.”