Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
46. Bojjhanga Saṃyutta
6. Bojj'Anga-Sākacca Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
46. Kindred Sayings on the Limbs of Wisdom
6. Perseverance in the Limbs of Wisdom

Sutta 51

Āhāra Suttaṃ

Food

Translated by F. L. Woodward

[85]

[1][than][bodh] Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī.

There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied,
and the Exalted One said:

2. "I will teach you, monks,
what is food
and what is no food
for the five hindrances
and for the seven limbs of wisdom.

Do ye listen to it.

I. The Food of the Hindrances

3. And what, monks, is food
for the arising of sensual lust
that has not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth
of sensual lust already arisen?

It is, monks, the alluring feature of things.^[1]

Unsystematic attention to that
is this [86] food
for the arising of sensual lust
that has not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth of sensual lust,
if arisen.

■

4. And what, monks, is food
for the arising of malevolence
not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth of malevolence,
if already arisen?

It is, monks, the repulsive feature of things.

Unsystematic attention to that
is this food
for the arising of malevolence
that has not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth of malevolence,
if arisen.

■

5. And what, monks, is food
for the arising of sloth and torpor
not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth of sloth and torpor,
if already arisen?

It is, monks,
regret,
drowsiness,
languor,
surfeit after meals,
torpidity of mind.^[2]

Unsystematic attention to that, monks,
is this food for the arising of sloth and torpor
that has not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth of sloth and torpor,
if arisen.

■

6. And what, monks, is food
for the arising of excitement and flurry
not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth of excitement and flurry,
if already arisen?

It is non-tranquillity of mind.

Unsystematic attention to that, monks,
is this food for the arising of excitement and flurry
that has not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth of excitement and flurry,
if arisen.

■

7. And what, monks, is food
for the arising of doubt and wavering
not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth of doubt and wavering,
if already arisen?

It is things which are based on doubt and wavering.

Unsystematic attention to that, monks,
is this food for the arising of doubt and wavering
that has not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth of doubt and wavering,
if arisen.

II. The Food of the Limbs of Wisdom

8. And what, monks, is food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness
not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment,
of the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness,
if already arisen?

There are, monks, things based on the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness.

Systematic attention thereto,
if made much of,
is this food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness
not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment,
of the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness,
if already arisen.

■

9. And what, monks, is food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is Norm-investigation
not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment,
of the limb of wisdom that is Norm-investigation,
if already arisen?

[87] There are, monks, things good and bad,
things blameworthy
and things not blameworthy,
things mean and things exalted,
things that are constituent parts
of darkness and light.

Systematic attention thereto,
if made much of,
is this food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom which is Norm-investigation
if not yet arisen,
(or for the more-becoming and growth thereof),
for the cultivation and fulfilment,
of the limb of wisdom that is Norm-investigation if already arisen.^[3]

■

10. And what, monks, is food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is energy
not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment,
of the limb of wisdom that is energy,
if already arisen?

There is, monks, the element of putting forth effort,
the element of exertion,
the element of striving.^[4]

Systematic attention thereto,
if made much of,
is this food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is energy
not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment,
of the limb of wisdom that is energy,
if already arisen.

■

11. And what, monks, is food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is zest
not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment,
of the limb of wisdom that is zest,
if already arisen?

There are, monks, things based on the limb of wisdom that is zest.

Systematic attention thereto,
if made much of,
is this food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is zest
not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment,
of the limb of wisdom that is zest,
if already arisen

■

12. And what, monks, is food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity
not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment,
of the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity,
if already arisen?

There is, monks, tranquillity of body
and there is tranquillity of mind.

Systematic attention thereto,
if made much of,
is this food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity
which has not yet arisen,
(or for the more-becoming and growth thereof),
or for the cultivation and fulfilment,
of the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity,
if already arisen.^[5]

■

13. And what, monks, is food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is concentration
not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment,
of the limb of wisdom that is concentration,
if already arisen?

[88] There are, monks, sights that calm,
that bewilder not.

Systematic attention thereto
is this food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is concentration
not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment,
of the limb of wisdom that is concentration,
if already arisen.

■

14. And what, monks, is food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is equanimity
not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment,
of the limb of wisdom that is equanimity,
if already arisen?

There are, monks, things based on the limb of wisdom that is equanimity.

Systematic attention thereto,
if made much of,
is this food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is equanimity
not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment,
of the limb of wisdom that is equanimity,
if already arisen.

III. No Food for the Hindrances

15. And what, monks, is no food
for the arising of sensual lust,
not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth
of sensual lust,
if already arisen?

There is, monks, the repulsive feature of things.

Systematic attention thereto,
if made much of,
is no food for the arising of sensual lust,
not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth
of sensual lust,
if already arisen.

■

16. And what, monks, is no food
for the arising of malevolence,
not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth
of malevolence,
if already arisen?

It is a heart released by goodwill.^[6]

Systematic attention thereto,
if made much of,
is no food for the arising of malevolence,
not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth
of malevolence,
if already arisen.

■

17. And what, monks, is no food
for the arising of sloth and torpor,
not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth
of sloth and torpor,
if already arisen?

It is the element of putting forth effort,
the element of exertion,
the element of striving.

Systematic attention thereto
if made much of,
is no food for the arismg of sloth and torpor,
not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth
of sloth and torpor,
if already arisen.

■

[89] 18. And what, monks, is no food
for the arising of excitement and flurry,
not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth
of excitement and flurry,
if already arisen?

It is tranquillity of mind.

Systematic attention thereto,
if made much of,
is no food for the arising of excitement and flurry,
not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth
of excitement and flurry,
if already arisen.

■

19. And what, monks, is no food
for the arising of doubt and wavering,
not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth
of doubt and wavering,
if already arisen?

There are, monks, things good and things bad,
things blameworthy and things not blameworthy,
things mean and things exalted,
things that are constituent parts
of darkness and light.

Systematic attention thereto,
if made much of,
is no food
for the arising of doubt and wavering,
not yet arisen,
or for the more-becoming and growth
of doubt and wavering,
if already arisen.

IV. No Food for the Limbs of Wisdom

20. And what, monks, is no food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness,
if not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment
of the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness
that is already arisen

There are, monks, things based on the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness.

Unsystematic attention thereto,
if made much of,
is no food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness
not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment
of the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness,
if already arisen.

■

21. And what, monks, is no food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is Norm-investigation,
if not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment
of the limb of wisdom that is Norm-investigation,
if already arisen?

There are, monks, things good and things bad,
things blameworthy and things not blameworthy,
things mean and things exalted,
things that are constituent parts
of darkness and light.

Unsystematic attention thereto,
if made much of,
is no food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is Norm-investigation,
if not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment
of the limb of wisdom that is Norm-investigation,
if already arisen.

■

22. And what, monks, is no food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is energy,
if not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment
of the limb of wisdom that is energy,
if already arisen?

[90] There is, monks, the element of putting forth effort,
the element of exertion,
the element of striving.

Unsystematic attention thereto,
if made much of,
is no food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is energy,
if not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment
of the limb of wisdom that is energy,
if already arisen.

■

23. And what, monks, is no food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is zest,
if not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment
of the limb of wisdom that is zest,
if already arisen?

There are, monks, things based on the limb of wisdom that is zest.

Unsystematic attention thereto,
if made much of,
is no food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is zest,
if not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment
of the limb of wisdom that is zest,
if already arisen.

■

24. And what, monks, is no food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity,
if not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment
of the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity,
if already arisen?

There is, monks, a tranquillity of body
and a tranquillity of mind.

Unsystematic attention thereto,
if made much of,
is no food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity,
if not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment
of the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity,
if already arisen.

■

25. And what, monks, is no food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is equanimity,
if not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment
of the limb of wisdom that is equanimity,
if already arisen?

There are, monks, things based on the limb of wisdom that is equanimity.

Unsystematic attention thereto,
if made much of,
is no food
for the arising
of the limb of wisdom that is equanimity,
if not yet arisen,
or for the cultivation and fulfilment
of the limb of wisdom that is equanimity,
if already arisen."

^[1] Cf. II, 1, i, [? SN2.12.11] for a similar section on Food.

^[2] Cf. A. i, 3; supra, text 64 n.

^[3] Quoted VM. i, 131, where the words in brackets are added.

^[4] Ārambha-dhātu. Cf. Expos. i, 192. The initial effort of striving. Cf. MA. 284. Nikkama-dhātu, the same, grown stronger by casting off sloth. Parakkama-dhātu, the same, still stronger as it draws nearer and nearer to the goal.

^[5] VM. i, 133, brackets as above.

^[6] Mettā-ceto-vimutti.

Saṃyutta Nikāya 5. Mahā-Vagga 46. Bojjhanga Saṃyutta 6. Bojj'Anga-Sākacca Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings 5. The Great Chapter 46. Kindred Sayings on the Limbs of Wisdom 6. Perseverance in the Limbs of Wisdom