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- Samyutta Nikaya XLVI.51
- Ahara Sutta
- Food (for the Factors of Awakening)
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
"Monks, I will teach you the feeding & starving of the five hindrances &
of the seven factors of Awakening. Listen & 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 & increase of sensual desire once it has arisen? There is the theme of
beauty. To foster inappropriate attention to it: This is the food for the arising of
unarisen sensual desire, or for the growth & increase of sensual desire once it has
arisen.
"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen ill will, or for the
growth & increase of ill will once it has arisen? There is the theme of irritation. To
foster inappropriate attention to it: This is the food for the arising of unarisen ill
will, or for the growth & increase of ill will once it has arisen.
"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen sloth & drowsiness,
or for the growth & increase of sloth & drowsiness once it has arisen? There are
boredom, weariness, yawning, drowsiness after a meal, & sluggishness of awareness. To
foster inappropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen sloth
& drowsiness, or for the growth & increase of sloth & drowsiness once it has
arisen.
"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen restlessness & anxiety,
or for the growth & increase of restlessness & 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 & anxiety, or for the growth & increase
of restlessness & anxiety once it has arisen.
"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen uncertainty, or for the
growth & increase of uncertainty once it has arisen? There are phenomena 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 & increase of uncertainty once
it has arisen.
(Feeding the Factors of Awakening)
"Now, what is the food for the arising of unarisen mindfulness as a factor
of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of mindfulness as a factor of Awakening
once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for mindfulness as a
factor of Awakening [well-purified virtue & views made straight]. To foster
appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen mindfulness as
a factor of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of mindfulness as a factor of
Awakening once it has arisen.
"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen analysis of qualities as
a factor of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of analysis of qualities...once it
has arisen? There are mental qualities that are skillful & unskillful, blameworthy
& blameless, gross & refined, siding with darkness & with light. To foster
appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen analysis of
qualities as a factor of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of analysis of
qualities...once it has arisen.
"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen persistence as a factor
of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of persistence...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
persistence as a factor of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of
persistence...once it has arisen.
"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen rapture as a factor of
Awakening, or for the growth & increase of rapture...once it has arisen? There are
mental qualities that act as a foothold for rapture as a factor of Awakening. To foster
appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen rapture as a
factor of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of rapture...once it has arisen.
"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen serenity as a factor of
Awakening, or for the growth & increase of serenity...once it has arisen? There is
physical serenity & there is mental serenity. To foster appropriate attention to them:
This is the food for the arising of unarisen serenity as a factor of Awakening, or for the
growth & increase of serenity...once it has arisen.
"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen concentration as a factor
of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of concentration...once it has arisen?
There are themes for calm, themes for non-distraction [these are the four frames of
reference]. To foster appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of
unarisen concentration as a factor of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of
concentration...once it has arisen.
"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen equanimity as a factor of
Awakening, or for the growth & increase of equanimity...once it has arisen? There are
mental qualities that act as a foothold for equanimity as a factor of Awakening. To foster
appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen equanimity as
a factor of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of equanimity as a factor of
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 & increase of sensual desire once it has arisen? There is the theme of
unattractiveness. To foster appropriate attention to it: This is lack of food for the
arising of unarisen sensual desire, or for the growth & 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 & 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 & increase of ill will once it has arisen.
"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen sloth & drowsiness,
or for the growth & increase of sloth & 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 & drowsiness, or for the growth & increase of sloth & drowsiness once it
has arisen.
"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen restlessness &
anxiety, or for the growth & increase of restlessness & 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 & anxiety, or for the growth
& increase of restlessness & anxiety once it has arisen.
"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen uncertainty, or for
the growth & increase of uncertainty once it has arisen? There are mental qualities
that are skillful & unskillful, blameworthy & blameless, gross & refined,
siding with darkness & with light. To foster appropriate attention to them: This is
lack of food for the arising of unarisen uncertainty, or for the growth & increase of
uncertainty once it has arisen.
(Starving the Factors of Awakening)
"Now, what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen mindfulness as a
factor of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of mindfulness as a factor of
Awakening once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for
mindfulness as a factor of Awakening. Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of
food for the arising of unarisen mindfulness as a factor of Awakening, or for the growth
& increase of mindfulness as a factor of Awakening once it has arisen.
"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen analysis of qualities as
a factor of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of analysis of qualities...once it
has arisen? There are mental qualities that are skillful & unskillful, blameworthy
& blameless, gross & refined, siding with darkness & with light. Not fostering
attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen analysis of qualities
as a factor of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of analysis of qualities...once
it has arisen.
"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen persistence as a
factor of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of persistence...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
persistence as a factor of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of
persistence...once it has arisen.
"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen rapture as a factor
of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of rapture...once it has arisen? There are
mental qualities that act as a foothold for rapture as a factor of Awakening. Not
fostering attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen rapture as a
factor of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of rapture...once it has arisen.
"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen serenity as a factor
of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of serenity...once it has arisen? There is
physical serenity & there is mental serenity. Not fostering attention to them: This is
lack of food for the arising of unarisen serenity as a factor of Awakening, or for the
growth & increase of serenity...once it has arisen.
"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen concentration as a
factor of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of concentration...once it has
arisen? There are the themes for concentration, themes for non-confusion. Not fostering
attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen concentration as a
factor of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of concentration...once it has
arisen.
"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen equanimity as a
factor of Awakening, or for the growth & increase of equanimity as a factor of
Awakening once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for
equanimity as a factor of Awakening. Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of food
for the arising of unarisen equanimity as a factor of Awakening, or for the growth &
increase of equanimity as a factor of Awakening once it has arisen."