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Samyutta Nikaya XLVI.51

Ahara Sutta (SN XLVI.51)

Food

(for the Factors for Awakening)

Originally translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

Edited for readability and sensitivity for the language of gnosis and cognition, April 16, 2005, by the contemplative recluse monk Sotapanna Jhanananda (Jeffrey S, Brooks)

For free distribution only.

"Monks, I will teach you the feeding and the starving of the five hindrances, and the feeding and the starving of the seven factors for Awakening,. Listen and pay close attention. I will speak...

(Feeding the Hindrances)

"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen sensual desire, or for the growth and increase of sensual desire once it has arisen? There are the signs and characteristics (nimitta) of beauty. To foster inappropriate attention to it: This is the food for the arising of unarisen sensual desire, or for the growth and increase of sensual desire once it has arisen.

"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen ill will, or for the growth and increase of ill will once it has arisen? There are the signs and characteristics (nimitta) of resistance. To foster inappropriate attention to it: This is the food for the arising of unarisen ill will, or for the growth and increase of ill will once it has arisen.

"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen sloth and drowsiness, or for the growth and increase of sloth and drowsiness once it has arisen? There are boredom, weariness, yawning, drowsiness after a meal, and sluggishness of awareness. To foster inappropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen sloth and drowsiness, or for the growth and increase of sloth and drowsiness once it has arisen.

"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen restlessness and anxiety, or for the growth and increase of restlessness and anxiety once it has arisen? There is non-stillness of awareness. To foster inappropriate attention to that: This is the food for the arising of unarisen restlessness and anxiety, or for the growth and increase of restlessness and anxiety once it has arisen.

"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen uncertainty, or for the growth and increase of uncertainty once it has arisen? There are signs and characteristics that act as a foothold for uncertainty. To foster inappropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen uncertainty, or for the growth and increase of uncertainty once it has arisen.

Feeding the Factors for Awakening (bojjhanga)

"Now, what is the food for the arising of unarisen mindfulness (sati) as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of mindfulness as a factor for Awakening once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for mindfulness as a factor for Awakening [well-purified virtue and views made straight]. To foster appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen mindfulness as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of mindfulness as a factor for Awakening once it has arisen.

"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen analysis of mental states (dhamma-vicaya) as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of analysis of mental qualities... once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that are skillful and unskillful, blameworthy and blameless, gross and refined, siding with darkness and with light. To foster appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen analysis of mental states as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of analysis of mental states... once it has arisen.

"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen Energy (kundalini/viriya) as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of Energy... once it has arisen? There is the potential for effort, the potential for exertion, the potential for striving. To foster appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen Energy as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of Energy... once it has arisen.

"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen bliss (piiti) as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of bliss... once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for bliss as a factor for Awakening. To foster appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen bliss as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of bliss... once it has arisen.

"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen tranquility (passaddhi) as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of tranquility... once it has arisen? There is physical tranquility and there is mental tranquility. To foster appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen tranquility as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of tranquility... once it has arisen.

"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen absorption (samadhi) as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of absorption... once it has arisen? There are themes for calm, themes for non-distraction [these are the four cornerstones of mindfulness]. To foster appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen absorption as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of absorption... once it has arisen.

"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen equanimity (upekkha) as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of equanimity... once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for equanimity as a factor for Awakening. To foster appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen equanimity as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of equanimity as a factor for Awakening once it has arisen.

(Starving the Hindrances)

"Now, what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen sensual desire, or for the growth and increase of sensual desire once it has arisen? There is the signs and characteristics (nimitta) of unattractiveness. To foster appropriate attention to it: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen sensual desire, or for the growth and increase of sensual desire once it has arisen.

"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen ill will, or for the growth and increase of ill will once it has arisen? There is the release of the mind [through good will, compassion, appreciation, or equanimity]. To foster appropriate attention to that: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen ill will, or for the growth and increase of ill will once it has arisen.

"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen sloth and drowsiness, or for the growth and increase of sloth and drowsiness once it has arisen? There is the potential for effort, the potential for exertion, the potential for striving. To foster appropriate attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen sloth and drowsiness, or for the growth and increase of sloth and drowsiness once it has arisen.

"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen restlessness and anxiety, or for the growth and increase of restlessness and anxiety once it has arisen? There is stillness of awareness. To foster appropriate attention to that: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen restlessness and anxiety, or for the growth and increase of restlessness and anxiety once it has arisen.

"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen uncertainty, or for the growth and increase of uncertainty once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that are skillful and unskillful, blameworthy and blameless, gross and refined, siding with darkness and with light. To foster appropriate attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen uncertainty, or for the growth and increase of uncertainty once it has arisen.

(Starving the Factors for Awakening)

"Now, what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen mindfulness (sati) as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of mindfulness as a factor for Awakening once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for mindfulness as a factor for Awakening. Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen mindfulness as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of mindfulness as a factor for Awakening once it has arisen.

"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen analysis of mental states (dhamma-vicaya) as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of analysis of mental states... once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that are skillful and unskillful, blameworthy and blameless, gross and refined, siding with darkness and with light. Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen analysis of mental states as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of analysis of qualities... once it has arisen.

"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen Energy (kundalini/viriya) as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of energy... once it has arisen? There is the potential for effort, the potential for exertion, the potential for striving. Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen energy as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of energy... once it has arisen.

"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen bliss (piiti) as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of bliss... once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for bliss as a factor for Awakening. Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen bliss as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of bliss... once it has arisen.

"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen tranquility (passaddhi) as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of tranquility... once it has arisen? There is physical tranquility and there is mental tranquility. Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen tranquility as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of tranquility... once it has arisen.

"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen absorption (samadhi) as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of absorption... once it has arisen? There are the themes for absorption, themes for non-confusion. Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen absorption as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of absorption... once it has arisen.

"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen equanimity (upekkha) as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of equanimity as a factor for Awakening once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for equanimity as a factor for Awakening. Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen equanimity as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth and increase of equanimity as a factor for Awakening once it has arisen."

See also:  AN V.51 

Revised: Saturday 2005.01.29

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/samyutta/sn46-051.html

(*) See also the Vietnamese translation by Venerable Thich Minh-Chau, Rector, Institute of Buddhist Studies, Vietnam

http://www.saigon.com/~anson/uni/u-kinh-trungbo/trung00.htm

This version edited by Jhanananda (04/16/05) is available at this URL:

http://www.greatwesternvehicle.org/aharasutta.htm

May you become enlightened in this very lifetime,

Sotapanna Jhanananda (Jeffrey S. Brooks):


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