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 (“food�) 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 7 - Conclusion
10 (of 30)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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he is easy to touch with true happiness. Right speech (sammāvācā) is
based on Right Thinking. Speech is regarded as popular food for
everyone's ear, this kind of food is produced by mouth factory, war or
peace is dependent on it. It is also called habitual food; hence, the
practice of Right Speech is to try to change one's bad habitual foods to
good ones. The society in which speech is a means of connection between
individual and individual, between community and community, it is very
important and necessary to practise nice and true words. Individual,
family and society need to be nourished by this kind of food. In order to
obtain Right Speech, one has to practice deep listening through right
mindfulness of his breathes and things. The cultivation of Right Speech is
not to say words in relation to the idea "I" and "mine." The practice of
Right Action (sammākammanto) is to do everything in mindfulness. One
should practice without doing evils such as killing, stealing, sexual
misconduct, telling a lie, and other evil actions. Right action means
bringing into one's body and mind only the kinds of foods that are safe
and healthy. He practices mindful eating, drinking, and consuming
aware of suffering caused by unmindful consumption. He is not eating
things that create toxins in one's body and mind and has to be mindful to
protect himself from wrong actions. One practises mindful consumption
to protect his family and society from ingesting toxins. Thus, the basis of
Right Action is Right Mindfulness in which one frees from all actions
that are tied by the notion of “I� and “mine." Right Livelihood or Right
Living (sammāājīvo) implies the right jobs or professions that do not
harm the living of other people, animals, and environment. In other
words, the ways searching for foods do not affect living of people,
animals, plants, and minerals. Nowadays so many modern industries are
harmful to humans and nature, even food production. Chemical pesticides
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