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 7 - Conclusion
24 (of 30)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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which are such as killing, stealing, sexual pleasure; evil words, and evil
thoughts. The operation of these evil actions is that of lust, hatred, and
delusion, and of diseases, which will burn away both physical and mental
health. Gandhi said, "the relation between the body and the mind is so
intimate that if either of them gets out of order, the whole system would
suffer. Hence it follows that a pure character is the foundation of health in
the real sense of the term; and we may say that all evil actions and evil
passions are but different forms of disease. "524 Whenever one has a
trained mind, it brings health and happiness to him.
7.3.2. Solution for sense organs crisis
525 The six internal sense organs: eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind
constantly consume the six external sense bases (the external world):
material form, sound, smell, taste, tactual object, and mental object like
their foods. Attachment to the external world arisen from touching has
caused worldly winds: gain and loss, fame and shame, praise and blame,
and happiness and pain. Nowadays, social environment is being
downgraded seriously; man's sense organs have absorbed a lot of adverse
cases such as conflict, violence, hatred, killing, lying and deceit; that
cases blind one's mind leading to evil actions. Such is the crisis of sense
organs. The senses organs crisis leads to other crises in society.
The solution is to avoid touching the images and sounds that can
cause anger and greed, and keep in touch with the images and sounds that
can bring joy to us. It is essential to contemplate deeply on man and
external world. It needs are not self, changing, and conditioning in order
to give up attachment and grasping. With right view, one sees that due to
attachment to the external world, there is suffering, sorrow, and sams膩ra.
Ibid., p. 90.
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525 Dhp., verse No. 35.
