Bhesajjakkhandhaka (Chapter on Medicine)
by Hin-tak Sik | 2016 | 121,742 words
This study deals with the ancient Indian Medicine (Ayurveda) in Early Buddhist Literature and studies the Bhesajjakkhandhaka and the Parallels in other Vinaya Canons. The word Bhesajja means 鈥渕edicine鈥� and is the sixth chapter of the Khandhaka, which represents the second book of the Pali Vinaya Pitaka. Other works consulted include the Bhaisajya-s...
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Seven-day Medicines (a): Lipids and Sweets
Most of the available versions of the Chapter on Medicine start with the case of autumnal disease, which will be discussed in detail in the next chapter. For this illness, certain substances were allowed to be used which were later restricted for storage and consumption within seven days, and hence they are known as the seven-day medicines. As emphasised in some Vinayas (the 罢丑别谤补惫腻诲补, the Dharmaguptaka, and the 惭补丑墨艣腻蝉补办补), these substances were recognised as 鈥渕edicines鈥� by the world, and not just foods.
The lists of these medicines, however, differ slightly in the extant Chapters on Medicine as follows:[1]
罢丑别谤补惫腻诲补鈥斺�淭hese five medicines, namely, ghee, fresh butter, oil, honey, [and] molasses; [these] medicines indeed are considered as medicines for the world, and they serve as food, and [each of them] is not perceived as coarse food.鈥�[2]
Dharmaguptaka鈥斺�淭here are five kinds of medicine which are commonly used by the world: ghee, oil, honey, butter, [and] rock sugar.[4] Now I would rather let the monks eat these [which are] common medicines to be consumed, without making [these medicines] appear as coarse food like the things of rice [or] parched flour.鈥�[6]
惭补丑墨艣腻蝉补办补鈥斺�淭he worldly people use ghee, oil, honey, [and] rock sugar as medicines. Now I should allow the monks to consume [them].鈥�[8]
厂补谤惫腻蝉迟颈惫腻诲补鈥斺�溾�� four kinds of soft and easily swallowed medicine:[10] ghee, oil, honey, [and] rock sugar.鈥�[12]
惭奴濒补蝉补谤惫腻蝉迟颈惫腻诲补鈥斺�淭he medicines for seven days are thus: ghee, oil, molasses, honey, [and] rock sugar.鈥�[3] [5]
惭补丑腻蝉腻峁僩丑颈办补[7] 鈥斺�淢edicines for seven days [are] ghee, oil, honey, rock sugar, butter [and] grease 鈥� these are called medicines for seven days.鈥� [9]
The lists of these seven-day medicines in the extant Vinayas are highly similar with only some slight differences. The substances involved are: ghee, butter, oil, honey, molasses, rock sugar, and grease.
In the 厂耻迟迟补惫颈产丑补峁単补 of the 罢丑别谤补惫腻诲补 Vinaya, five seven-day medicines are explained thus:
鈥済hee by name is the ghee of the cow, or the ghee of the she-goat, or ghee of the buffalo鈥揼hee of those [animals] whose meat is proper; fresh butter by name is the fresh butter also of those [animals]; oil by name is sesame oil, mustard oil, oil of mahua seeds,[11] castor oil, [and] oil of tallow; honey by name is the honey of bees; molasses by name is that originated from sugarcane.鈥�[13]
These substances are allowed for acceptance and use by a sick monk (or nun) during the proper time and improper time (罢丑别谤补惫腻诲补 Vinaya 笔颈峁璦办补 I. 200; 罢补颈蝉丑艒 罢谤颈辫颈峁璦办补 1428. 869c9; 罢补颈蝉丑艒 罢谤颈辫颈峁璦办补 1435. 184c11). They are known as seven-day medicines because there was overaccumulation of them by the monks that had caused hygiene problems. The Buddha thus restricted their storage and usage within seven days (罢丑别谤补惫腻诲补 Vinaya 笔颈峁璦办补 I. 206-209; 罢补颈蝉丑艒 罢谤颈辫颈峁璦办补 1428. 870b3-23; 罢补颈蝉丑艒 罢谤颈辫颈峁璦办补 1435. 185a18-b10).
Ghee and butter are two milk products in the 鈥済roup of milk鈥� (办峁Ｄ玶补-惫补谤驳补) in 膧测耻谤惫别诲补 (Caraka 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 27. 217-236;厂耻艣谤耻迟补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 45. 47-111; 础峁ａ弓腻峁単补 贬峁沝补测补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 5. 20-42).[14] Ghee is used commonly in 膧测耻谤惫别诲补. It has many values and therapeutic usages. It promotes strength and many bodily functions, as well as reduces wind and bile humours (Caraka 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 13. 41-43; 厂耻艣谤耻迟补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 45. 96; 础峁ａ弓腻峁単补 贬峁沝补测补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 5. 37-39). Ghee alone is an antidote for bile humour which is aggravated in autumn, and hence it is best used in this season.[15] Various types of ghee are extracted from milk of different mammals (even of women), and they have some difference in their properties and therapeutic usages (Caraka 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 27. 231-233; 厂耻艣谤耻迟补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 45. 97-111; 础峁ａ弓腻峁単补 贬峁沝补测补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 5. 40). Fresh butter, another milk product, has similar properties and remedial values as ghee (Caraka 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 27. 230; 厂耻艣谤耻迟补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 45. 92-93; 础峁ａ弓腻峁単补 贬峁沝补测补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 5. 35-36).
Oil is another unctuous substance often used in 膧测耻谤惫别诲补. It is usually obtained from seeds, fruits, or wood of plants. There are many types of oil, such as sesame oil, castor oil, mustard oil, oil of various fruits, etc. All vegetal oils are pacifiers of wind humour, and have similar properties (as sesame oil). They improve bodily strength (Caraka 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 13. 15, 27. 286-294; 厂耻艣谤耻迟补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 45. 113-129; 础峁ａ弓腻峁単补 贬峁沝补测补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 5. 55-61).
Honey, molasses and rock sugar are sweet substances. In 膧测耻谤惫别诲补, honey has many types in accordance with the types of bees that collect them. It alleviates the humours of bile and phlegm, but aggravates wind humour. It promotes complexion, appetite, and many other functions (Caraka 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 27. 243-245; 厂耻艣谤耻迟补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 45. 132139; 础峁ａ弓腻峁単补 贬峁沝补测补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 5. 51-53). Molasses and rock sugar are two products of sugarcane juice. Molasses is weight-promoting. It mildly increases the three humours (厂耻艣谤耻迟补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 45. 159; 础峁ａ弓腻峁単补 贬峁沝补测补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 5. 47). Rock sugar is good for the emaciated and the wounded. It relieves aggravation of wind humour (Caraka 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 27. 241-242; 厂耻艣谤耻迟补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 45. 163, 168; 础峁ａ弓腻峁単补 贬峁沝补测补 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 5. 49-50).
In modern nutritional science, these above-mentioned seven-day medicines are all high caloric sources. Digestion and metabolism of these substances produce significant amounts of energy for the body. Ghee, butter and oil belong to the group of lipids, while honey, molasses and rock sugar are of the group of carbohydrates. They are chiefly regarded as nutrients rather than medicines in modern sciences.[16]
In brief, certain substances were allowed by the Buddha to be used at most for seven days. These seven-day medicines include ghee, fresh butter, oil, honey, molasses, and rock sugar, as mentioned in the various versions of the Chapter on Medicine. These medicines, according to 膧测耻谤惫别诲补, have their own properties and therapeutic usages. In modern science, they are important sources of energy. Their usage as medicines may be understood by the fact that large amounts of energy would be needed by the body during sickness for combating illness and for recovery. Thus, foods which provide large amounts of energy would be beneficial according to ancient Indian medicine.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Abbreviations for Buddhist schools will be used in the tables in this and the next chapters as: 罢丑别谤补惫腻诲补 for 罢丑别谤补惫腻诲补, Dharmaguptaka for Dharmaguptaka, 惭补丑墨艣腻蝉补办补 for 惭补丑墨艣腻蝉补办补, 厂补谤惫腻蝉迟颈惫腻诲补 for 厂补谤惫腻蝉迟颈惫腻诲补, 惭奴濒补蝉补谤惫腻蝉迟颈惫腻诲补 for 惭奴濒补蝉补谤惫腻蝉迟颈惫腻诲补, and 惭补丑腻蝉腻峁僩丑颈办补 for 惭补丑腻蝉腻峁僩丑颈办补.
[2]:
[3]:
Gilgit Manuscritps (Gilgit Manuscripts) III. 1.iii: 鈥�s膩pt膩hika峁� sarpistath膩 迟补颈濒补峁� 辫丑腻峁噄迟补峁� madhu 艣arkar膩.鈥� 罢补颈蝉丑艒 罢谤颈辫颈峁璦办补
[4]:
Milk (涔�) is 办峁Ｄ玶补 in Sanskrit, curds (閰�) is dadhi, butter (鐢熼叆) is 苍补惫补苍墨迟补, ghee (or clarified butter) (鐔熼叆) is 驳丑峁泃补 (or sarpi), and the finest ghee (閱嶉啇) is 蝉补谤辫颈谤尘补峁囜笉补, according to Foguang da cidian 浣涘厜澶ц经鍏� (Large Dictionary of the Buddha鈥檚 Light), s.v. 鈥滀簲鍛斥�� [accessed January 12, 2015, https://www.fgs.org.tw/fgs_book/fgs_drser.aspx].
[5]:
. 1b8: 鈥滀竷鏃ヨ棩鑰咃細閰ャ�佹补銆佺硸銆佽湝銆佺煶铚溿�傗��
[6]:
罢补颈蝉丑艒 罢谤颈辫颈峁璦办补 1428. 869b26-28: 鈥滄湁浜旂ó钘ワ紝鏄笘甯哥敤鑰咃紝閰ャ�佹补銆佽湝銆佺敓閰ャ�佺煶铚溿�傛垜浠婂鍙护璜告瘮涓橀涔嬶紝鐣堕甯歌棩涓嶄护楹佺従锛屽椋酣娉曘�傗��
[7]:
The Chapter on Medicine parallel in the 惭补丑腻蝉腻峁僩丑颈办补 Vinaya does not contain a passage on the autumnal disease and the seven-day medicines. This list is extracted from elsewhere in this Vinaya.
[8]:
罢补颈蝉丑艒 罢谤颈辫颈峁璦办补 1421. 147b8: 鈥滀笘浜轰互閰ャ�佹补銆佽湝銆佺煶铚滅偤钘ワ紝鎴戜粖鐣惰伣璜告瘮涓樻湇銆傗��
[9]:
罢补颈蝉丑艒 罢谤颈辫颈峁璦办补 1425. 454b21-22: 鈥滀竷鏃ヨ棩鑰咃紝閰ャ�佹补銆佽湝銆佺煶铚溿�佺敓閰ャ�佽啅... 鏄悕涓冩棩钘ャ�傗�� Grease or animal fat (惫补蝉腻) is approved as one of the seven-day medicines in the Vinayas, though the lists of such substances for curing autumnal disease do not include it. This group will be discussed in the next section.
[10]:
These four are described as 鈥滃惈娑堚��, which literally means 鈥渂eing held in mouth, [it] disappears.鈥� It refers to those foods or medicines which are soft and easily swallowed.
[11]:
[12]:
罢补颈蝉丑艒 罢谤颈辫颈峁璦办补 1435. 184c3: 鈥溾�﹀洓绋惈娑堣棩閰ユ补铚滅煶铚溿�傗�� These are allowed for use before and after noon (184c11).
[13]:
罢丑别谤补惫腻诲补 Vinaya 笔颈峁璦办补 III. 251: 鈥�sappi 苍腻尘补 gosappi v膩 ajik膩sappi v膩 m膩hisa峁� v膩 sappi, yesa峁� 尘补峁僺补峁� kappati tesa峁� sappi. 苍补惫补苍墨迟补峁� 苍腻尘补 tesa峁� yeva 苍补惫补苍墨迟补峁�. 迟别濒补峁� 苍腻尘补 tila迟别濒补峁� s膩sapa迟别濒补峁� madhuka迟别濒补峁� era峁囜笉a迟别濒补峁� 惫补蝉腻迟别濒补峁�. madhu 苍腻尘补 makkhik膩madhu. 辫丑腻峁噄迟补峁� 苍腻尘补 ucchumh膩 苍颈产产补迟迟补峁�.鈥� The 惭补丑腻蝉腻峁僩丑颈办补 Vinaya enumerates a lot more items for each kind of the sevenday medicines than those given in the 罢丑别谤补惫腻诲补 厂耻迟迟补惫颈产丑补峁単补 (罢补颈蝉丑艒 罢谤颈辫颈峁璦办补 1425. 244c13-25). However, these items are too many to be translated all here. In fact, abundant items for all four types of medicine can be found in 罢补颈蝉丑艒 罢谤颈辫颈峁璦办补 1425. 244b20-245a3.
[14]:
[15]:
See the translators鈥� notes to Caraka 厂补峁僪颈迟腻 厂奴迟谤补蝉迟丑腻苍补 13. 18 (in Sharma and Dash 2005-2013, vol. 1, 249) for detailed explanation. Autumnal illness will be discussed in Chapter Five.
[16]:
For further information of these substances in modern science, see Encyclop忙dia Britannica Online, s.v. 鈥渉uman nutrition鈥� and 鈥渟ugar鈥� [accessed January 14, 2015, http://academic.eb.com/EBchecked/topic/422896/human-nutrition, and http://academic.eb.com/EBchecked/topic/571880/sugar, respectively]; Khan, Abadin, and Rauf 2007, 1705-1707; Lerner and Lerner 2008a, 1692-1693.