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 6 - Cultivation of four kinds of Ahara
2 (of 38)
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231
the four types of food is that of the Noble Truth of suffering 437 or the Four
Noble Truths. This means that the cultivation is to identify the kinds of
foods that have been feeding the suffering and then simply to stop
ingesting them as well as to identify the kinds of foods have been
nourishing the real happiness. The Buddha said, "When something has
come to be, one has to acknowledge its presence and look deeply into its
nature. When he looks deeply, he will discover the kinds of foods that
have helped it come to be and that continue to feed it.鈥�438 He then
elaborated four kinds of foods that can lead to our happiness or our
suffering edible food, food of contact, food of intention, and food of
consciousness as discussed previously. Shariputra, one of the Buddha's
great disciples, also said, "When this has come to be, if one contemplates
it deeply in the heart of reality, seeing its source and the food that
nourishes it, he is already on the path of liberation.
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Liberation is real happiness. One sees clearly that real happiness is
possible, if he can stop ingesting the foods that cause him to suffer. 440
Right mindfulness is the energy that can help him to investigate the kinds
of foods he now ingests and decides which ones to continue to eat and
which to resist. If he knows that his body and mind are suffering because
of the way he eats, sleeps, wishes, acts or works, he vows to eat, sleep,
wish or work in ways that are healthier. He vows to refrain from
ingesting foods that make or create him suffer, and he also vows to ingest
foods that are healthy and wholesome.
437 438
442 441
Why does the Buddha call suffering a Noble Truth? What is so noble about suffering? The fact is
that, thanks to suffering, one has a chance to cultivate his understanding and his comapassion.
Without suffering, there is no way he could learn to be compassionate. This is why sufffering is
noble. One should not allow suffering to overwhelm him, but if he knows how to look deeply into
suffering and learn from it, then he has the wisdom of understanding and compassion. Op. cit.
S. II, 47.
439 Ibid.
440 The heart of the buddha's teaching, ibid., p. 38.
441 Ibid.
442 Ibid., p. 39.
