Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
46. Bojjhanga Saṃyutta
6. Bojj'Anga-Sākacca Vagga
Sutta 51
Āhāra Suttaṃ
Food (for the Factors for Awakening)
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
Provenance, terms and conditons
[1][pts][bodh] "Monks, I will teach you the feeding and starving of the five hindrances and 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 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 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 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 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 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 and increase of uncertainty once it has arisen.
Feeding the factors for awakening
"Now, what 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?
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 qualities as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and increase of analysis of 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 qualities as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and increase of analysis of qualities... once it has arisen.
"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen persistence as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and 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 for awakening, or for the growth and increase of persistence... once it has arisen.
"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen rapture as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and increase of rapture... once it has arisen?
There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for rapture as a factor for awakening.
To foster appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen rapture as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and increase of rapture... once it has arisen.
"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen calm as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and increase of calm... once it has arisen?
There is physical calm and there is mental calm.
To foster appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen calm as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and increase of calm... once it has arisen.
"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen concentration as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and increase of concentration... once it has arisen?
There are themes for tranquility, themes for non-distraction [these are the four establishings of mindfulness — see MN 44].
To foster appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen concentration as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and increase of concentration... once it has arisen.
"And what is the food for the arising of unarisen equanimity 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 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 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 awareness-release [through goodwill, compassion, empathetic joy, 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 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 qualities as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and increase of analysis of 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.
Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen analysis of qualities 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 persistence as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and 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 for awakening, or for the growth and increase of persistence... once it has arisen.
"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen rapture as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and increase of rapture... once it has arisen?
There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for rapture as a factor for awakening.
Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen rapture as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and increase of rapture... once it has arisen.
"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen calm as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and increase of calm... once it has arisen?
There is physical calm and there is mental calm.
Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen calm as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and increase of calm... once it has arisen.
"And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen concentration as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and increase of concentration... once it has arisen?
There are the themes for tranquility, themes for non-distraction.
Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen concentration as a factor for awakening, or for the growth and increase of concentration... once it has arisen.
"And what 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?
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."
Of Related Interest:
