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sn.46.2 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

The Body

i. The nutriments for the hindrances

At Savatthī. “Bhikkhus, just as this body, sustained by nutriment, subsists in dependence on nutriment and does not subsist without nutriment, so too the five hindrances, sustained by nutriment, subsist in dependence on nutriment and do not subsist without nutriment.

“And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen sensual desire and for the increase and expansion of arisen sensual desire? There is, bhikkhus, the sign of the beautiful: frequently giving careless attention to it is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen sensual desire and for the increase and expansion of arisen sensual desire.

“And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen ill will and for the increase and expansion of arisen ill will? There is, bhikkhus, the sign of the repulsive: frequently giving careless attention to it is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen ill will and for the increase and expansion of arisen ill will.

“And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen sloth and torpor and for the increase and expansion of arisen sloth and torpor? There are, bhikkhus, discontent, lethargy, lazy stretching, drowsiness after meals, sluggishness of mind: frequently giving careless attention to them is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen sloth and torpor and for the increase and expansion of arisen sloth and torpor.

“And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen restlessness and remorse and for the increase and expansion of arisen restlessness and remorse? There is, bhikkhus, unsettledness of mind: frequently giving careless attention to it is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen restlessness and remorse and for the increase and expansion of arisen restlessness and remorse.

“And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen doubt and for the increase and expansion of arisen doubt? There are, bhikkhus, things that are the basis for doubt: frequently giving careless attention to them is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen doubt and for the increase and expansion of arisen doubt.

“Just as this body, bhikkhus, sustained by nutriment, subsists in dependence on nutriment and does not subsist without nutriment, so too the five hindrances, sustained by nutriment, subsist in dependence on nutriment and do not subsist without nutriment.

ii. The nutriments for the enlightenment factors

“Bhikkhus, just as this body, sustained by nutriment, subsists in dependence on nutriment and does not subsist without nutriment, so too the seven factors of enlightenment, sustained by nutriment, subsist in dependence on nutriment and do not subsist without nutriment.

“And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of mindfulness and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of mindfulness? There are, bhikkhus, things that are the basis for the enlightenment factor of mindfulness: frequently giving careful attention to them is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of mindfulness and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of mindfulness.

“And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of discrimination of states and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of discrimination of states? There are, bhikkhus, wholesome and unwholesome states, blameable and blameless states, inferior and superior states, dark and bright states with their counterparts: frequently giving careful attention to them is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of discrimination of states and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of discrimination of states.

“And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of energy and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of energy? There are, bhikkhus, the element of arousal, the element of endeavour, the element of exertion: frequently giving careful attention to them is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of energy and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of energy.

“And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of rapture and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of rapture? There are, bhikkhus, things that are the basis for the enlightenment factor of rapture: frequently giving careful attention to them is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of rapture and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of rapture.

“And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of tranquillity and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of tranquillity? There are, bhikkhus, tranquillity of body, tranquillity of mind: frequently giving careful attention to them is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of tranquillity and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of tranquillity.

“And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of concentration and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of concentration? There are, bhikkhus, the sign of serenity, the sign of nondispersal: frequently giving careful attention to them is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of concentration and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of concentration.

“And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of equanimity and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of equanimity? There are, bhikkhus, things that are the basis for the enlightenment factor of equanimity: frequently giving careful attention to them is the nutriment for the arising of the unarisen enlightenment factor of equanimity and for the fulfilment by development of the arisen enlightenment factor of equanimity.

“Just as this body, bhikkhus, sustained by nutriment, subsists in dependence on nutriment and does not subsist without nutriment, so too these seven factors of enlightenment, sustained by nutriment, subsist in dependence on nutriment and do not subsist without nutriment.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

The Body

At Sāvatthī.
“Mendicants, this body is sustained by food. It depends on food to continue, and without food it doesn’t continue.
In the same way, the five hindrances are sustained by fuel. They depend on fuel to continue, and without fuel they don’t continue.
And what fuels the arising of sensual desire, or, when it has arisen, makes it increase and grow?
There is the feature of beauty.
Frequent improper attention to that
fuels the arising of sensual desire, or, when it has arisen, makes it increase and grow.
And what fuels the arising of ill will, or, when it has arisen, makes it increase and grow?
There is the feature of harshness.
Frequent improper attention to that
fuels the arising of ill will, or, when it has arisen, makes it increase and grow.
And what fuels the arising of dullness and drowsiness, or, when they have arisen, makes them increase and grow?
There is discontent, sloth, yawning, sleepiness after eating, and mental sluggishness.
Frequent improper attention to them
fuels the arising of dullness and drowsiness, or, when they have arisen, makes them increase and grow.
And what fuels the arising of restlessness and remorse, or, when they have arisen, makes them increase and grow?
There is the unsettled mind.
Frequent improper attention to that
fuels the arising of restlessness and remorse, or, when they have arisen, makes them increase and grow.
And what fuels the arising of doubt, or, when it has arisen, makes it increase and grow?
There are things that are grounds for doubt.
Frequent improper attention to them
fuels the arising of doubt, or, when it has arisen, makes it increase and grow.
This body is sustained by food. It depends on food to continue, and without food it doesn’t continue.
In the same way, the five hindrances are sustained by fuel. They depend on fuel to continue, and without fuel they don’t continue.
This body is sustained by food. It depends on food to continue, and without food it doesn’t continue.
In the same way, the seven awakening factors are sustained by fuel. They depend on fuel to continue, and without fuel they don’t continue.
And what fuels the arising of the awakening factor of mindfulness, or, when it has arisen, fully develops it?
There are things that are grounds for the awakening factor of mindfulness.
Frequent proper attention to them
fuels the arising of the awakening factor of mindfulness, or, when it has arisen, fully develops it.
And what fuels the arising of the awakening factor of investigation of principles, or, when it has arisen, fully develops it?
There are qualities that are skillful and unskillful, blameworthy and blameless, inferior and superior, and those on the side of dark and bright.
Frequent proper attention to them
fuels the arising of the awakening factor of investigation of principles, or, when it has arisen, fully develops it.
And what fuels the arising of the awakening factor of energy, or, when it has arisen, fully develops it?
There are the elements of initiative, persistence, and exertion.
Frequent proper attention to them
fuels the arising of the awakening factor of energy, or, when it has arisen, fully develops it.
And what fuels the arising of the awakening factor of rapture, or, when it has arisen, fully develops it?
There are things that are grounds for the awakening factor of rapture.
Frequent proper attention to them
fuels the arising of the awakening factor of rapture, or, when it has arisen, fully develops it.
And what fuels the arising of the awakening factor of tranquility, or, when it has arisen, fully develops it?
There is tranquility of the body and of the mind.
Frequent proper attention to that
fuels the arising of the awakening factor of tranquility, or, when it has arisen, fully develops it.
And what fuels the arising of the awakening factor of immersion, or, when it has arisen, fully develops it?
There are things that are the foundation of serenity and freedom from distraction.
Frequent proper attention to them
fuels the arising of the awakening factor of immersion, or, when it has arisen, fully develops it.
And what fuels the arising of the awakening factor of equanimity, or, when it has arisen, fully develops it?
There are things that are grounds for the awakening factor of equanimity.
Frequent proper attention to them
fuels the arising of the awakening factor of equanimity, or, when it has arisen, fully develops it.
This body is sustained by food. It depends on food to continue, and without food it doesn’t continue.
In the same way, the seven awakening factors are sustained by fuel. They depend on fuel to continue, and without fuel they don’t continue.”