Essay name: Ahara as depicted in the Pancanikaya
Author:
Le Chanh
Affiliation: Savitribai Phule Pune University / Department of Sanskrit and Prakrit Languages
This critical study of Ahara (鈥渇ood鈥�) explores its significance in Buddhism, encompassing both physical and mental nourishment. The Panca Nikaya, part of the Sutta Pitaka, highlights how all human problems, including suffering and happiness, are connected to Ahara. Understanding this concept is crucial for comprehending and alleviating suffering, aiming for a balanced, enlightened life.
Chapter 4 - Concept of Ahara in Buddhism
20 (of 76)
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128
Udayin's 240 wrong view to think that devas with mind-made bodies is
formless (ar奴pa.) 241 It can be said that beings of the five aggregates are
existing and will exist with four kinds of 膩h膩ra, beings of the four
aggregates are existing and will existing with three kinds of 膩h膩ra:
contact, volition, and consciousness.
Material food, or rather the process of digestion, which involves the
decomposition of food in the process of assimilation by the body, is one of
the forty meditation-object (kamma峁弓h膩na) and is called reflection on the
loathsomeness of food (this will be discussed in details in the sixth chapter).
4.3.1.2. Function of kabali峁僰膩r膩h膩ra
Among the four kinds of nutriment, edible food fulfils the function
of nourishing, by way of sustaining (upatthambhento).
242 The edible food sustains the body by fortifying it, serves for the
(bodily) stability of beings. Though this body is produced by kamma, it is
through being sustained by edible food that it lasts for 10 years or 100
years, until the end of a being's normal life span. This may be compared,
firstly, to a child that, though brought forth by the mother, is nourished by
the wet nurse at the breast, and is nurtured in other ways; and reared thus
it lives long. Secondly, it is like a (dilapidated) house propped up by
supports. As it was said: "just as a house that is about to fall, will not
fall when supported by timber, so, O great king, is this body sustained by
nutriment and persists because of nutriment.
243 ,,244
Similarly, it is by sustaining that the nutriment edible food fulfills its
function of nourishing. In fulfilling that function, it is a condition to two
240 Ud膩yi was one of the Buddha's disciples, his mind often arose wrong views to the Dhammas. He
did not answer exactly the questions of the Buddha. Hence, he was blamed by the Buddha (A. I,
228; A. III, 184, 322; S.v.89; S.iv. 223-4).
241 Op. cit.,
194.
242 The Four Nutriments of Life, p. 27.
243 Ibid.
244 Milp. II, I, II.
