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.
Appendix 1 - Buddha's teachings on Ahara (Pali texts and English translations)
30 (of 38)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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327
Sister, as to the saying: "This body has come into being through craving, is
dependent on food; the craving must be abandoned," - it was sain in this connexion.
Herein, sister, a monk hears it said: "They say that such and such a monk, by destroying
the 膩savas, himself in this very life thoroughly comprehending it, realizes the heart's release,
the release by wisdom, that is free from the 膩savas, and having attained it abides therein." To
him it occurs: Surely I too, by destroying the 膩savas ... having attained it shall abide therein.
Then some time later, though dependent on craving, he abandons craving. As to the saying,
sister, that body has come into being through craving, is dependent on craving, craving must
be abandoned, - whatever was said thus was said in this connexion.
Sister, as to the saying: "This body has come into being through pride, is
dependent on pride; pride must be abandoned," - it was sain in this connexion. In this
case, sister, a monk hears it said: "They say that such and such a monk, by destroying
the 膩savas ... having attained the release by wisdom abides therein.鈥� To him it thus
occurs: That one by destroying the 膩savas ... can realize and attain and abide in the
release by wisdom. The why not I? Then some time later, though dependent on pride,
he abandons pride. As to the saying, sister: "This body has come into being through
pride, is dependent on pride; pride must be abandoned," - it was said in this connexion.
Sister, as to the saying: "This body has come into being through sexual intercourse (is
dependent on sexual intercourse; sexual intercourse must be abandoned), the breaking down
of the bridge which is in sexual intercourse has been spoken of by the Exalted One" ...?
Thereupon the nun rose from the couch, put her upper robe on one shoulder, fell
with her head at the feet of the venerable 膧nanda and said:
'O, sir, my fault overcame me, who am so foolish, so stupid, so wrong, that I acted
thus! O, sir, let master 膧nanda acknowledge my fault as such, for restraint in future time!'
'Verily, sister, your fault overcame you, thus foolish, thus stupid, thus wrong,
that you acted thus. But inasmuch as you, sister, have seen your fault as such and have
confessed it as is right, we do acknowledge it of you. This indeed, sister, is growth in
the discipline of the Ariyan, when, seeing his fault as such, one makes confession as is
right and comes to restraint in future time.'
(Ed. E.M. Hare, tran. F.L. Woodward, The Book of The Gradual Sayings, vol. II, PTS, pp. 148-150.)
