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
15 (of 76)
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123
then in this same visible state he makes an end of Ill. In what four
things? The four sustenances. "224
It is observed that nutriment (膩h膩ra) has the meaning of 鈥渃ondition"
(paccaya) because conditions carry (膩haranti) their own results. Here an
objection may be raised: 鈥淚f the meaning of nutriment is that of condition,
why are only four of them mentioned here, though living beings are
conditioned also in other ways?" In reply, it is said: "Because these four
are prominent conditions for the individual life continuity. "225
For beings living on material food, it is an important condition for
their physical organism (r奴pa-kaya.) As to their mental organism (n膩ma-
k膩ya,) sense-impression is an important condition of feeling, volitional
thought of consciousness, and consciousness of mind-and-body (n膩ma-
r奴pa.) Accordingly, it was said: "Just as this body subsists on nutriment,
subsists because of nutriment, does not subsist without nutriment; "226 in
the same way, 鈥淥 monks, are feelings conditioned by sense-impression,
is consciousness conditioned by kamma-formations (sankh膩ra-cetan膩,
鈥榢armic volition',) is mind-and-body conditioned by consciousness. "227
228 What is it, now, that is fed (or conditioned) by each of the four
nutriments? Edible food feeds and conditions the set of corporeal
qualities that have nutritive essence as their eighth factor. The
nutriment sense-impression feeds and conditions the three kinds of
feeling (pain, happiness, and neither anguish nor joy.) The nutriment
volitional thought feeds and conditions the three states of existence
224 A. V, 52 (The Book of The Gradual Sayings, vol. V, PTS, p. 35.)
225 The Four Nutriments of Life, ibid., p.25.
226 S. V, 64.
227 228
S. II, 12:1, 1, etc.
Oja峁弓hamaka-r奴p膩ni, the 鈥渂asic corporeal octad" (suddhatthaka-kal膩pa), consisting of the four
material elements, and color, smell, taste, and nutritive essence. This is the simplest kind of material
group recognized by the Abhidhamma theory of matter. All the more complex material groups also
contain these eight phenomena as their foundation. Material groups in a living organism require an
input of nutriment in order to endure in continuity.
