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 5 - Buddhist view on man and his Aharas
40 (of 45)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Sutta, the seven successive kings of the embedded story who have done
what the monks have done, have practiced the Dhamma and applied the
Dhamma to govern their land and people. Hence, their kingdom is always
well-fed, peaceful, without war, hunger, conflict, and theft. But the eighth
king did not do as what they did, so the kingdom falls into hunger, theft,
disease. The content of the embedded story can be depicted as follows:
The demise and reestablishment of the kingdom established by King
Dalhanemi, and each of seven successors, reestablishes the boundaries and
prosperity of the kingdom through following a set of duties known as the
noble duty of the wheel-turning monarch. (ariyam cakkavattivattan.) A
"wheel-turning monarch鈥� (cakkavattin) is the ideal ruler, one whose rule is
just and virtuous. The noble duty consists in the following: becoming the
embodiment of dhamma in all activities, providing shelter and protection
for all segments of the realm including the animals and birds, ensuring that
no wrongdoing occurs, providing wealth for those who are without wealth
(adhana,) being advised by the religious, and avoiding anything that might
cause the religious to give up their practice. The eighth king, whom the
text distinguishes by noting that he ruled according to his own mind
(samatena pas膩sati,) did not follow this pattern and the kingdom failed to
prosper. When instructed by his courtiers and other important citizens on
his duties, he followed all with one exception. He did not give wealth to
those who had none. As a consequence of this, hunger and poverty became
widespread (vepulam agam膩si.) When cases of theft occured, the king
initially provided the thieves with wealth and the injunction to use the
wealth to care for themselves, parents, wives and children, to set up a
business, and give gifts to the religious that will benefit them here and lead
to heaven. Eventually, however, a case of theft resulted in public
humiliation and beheading of the thief. The king reasons that if he simply
