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
16 (of 45)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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200
From the story, according to Buddhism, human beings are
consuming four kinds of coarse 膩h膩ras (foods): edible food or morsel
food, food of contact, food of volition, and food of consciousness as said.
It is called the coarse foods because of the present of craving (ta峁僪膩) or
desire in their operation, from craving is their uprising, craving produces
them, make them become coarse.
369 In the Tibetan native sub-commentary by Rgyal Tshab Rje, the first
or morsel food involves the three 鈥渟ense bases鈥� (膩yatana) of smell, taste,
and the tangible. The second or contactual food is the contact attended
with "flux" (s膩srava) that enhances the 'senses' (indriya) and the "great
factor elements" (mah膩bh奴ta.) The third, or volitional, food is the
'volition' (cetan膩) possessed of 鈥榠ntention' (膩艣aya) toward desired things.
The fourth or perceptual food implies the set of six consciousnesses
(vij帽n膩na.) 370 The sixth consciousness think of objects, is attached to the
satisfaction in pleasures of senses, then will of mind wishes that the
senses are constantly fed, this is the very maintenance of life by means of
volition food from the past till the present. Cankerous consciousness that
is grown by means of the power of edible food, contact, and volition
food; it sustains the body of sentient beings (satta-sacetano) without
being destroyed, for example living beings who live in 鈥渢he immaterial
world" and in the hell utilize 'consciousness' as their food.
371 In the four foods, edible food has only in the "the world of desire or
desire realm鈥� - human world, the other two are both in the triple world
(Triloka.) However, depending on difference of species of Womb-born
(jarayuja,) egg-born (andaja,) moist and wet conditions born
(samsvedaja,) born by transformation (anpapaduka,) the realm of human,
369 S. II, 11.
370 Untying The Knots In Buddhism, ibid., pp. 337-338.
371 Tu Dien Phat Hoc Hue Quang, vol. 5, Vietnam: NXB Tong Hop Tp. HCM, 2003, p. 4885.
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