1 There are these four nutriments, O bhikkhus, for the persistence of beings who have come to be or for the assistance of those who are seeking to be. What four? Food eaten in lumps, course of fine. Contact as the second. Mental intention as the third. Consciousness as the fourth. These, O bhikkhus, are the four nutriments, for the persistence of beings who have come to be or for the assistance of those who are seeking to be.

2 If, O bhikkhus, there is lust for the nutriment food eaten in lumps, if there is delight, if there is thirsting, there, consciousness is established and has come to growth. Where consciousness is established and has come to growth, there, there is the descent of name-and-form. Where there is the descent of name-and-form, there, there is growth of sankharas. Where there is growth of sankharas, there, there is an actualization of a being again in the future. Where there is an actualization of a being again in the future, there, there is future old age and death. Where there is future old age and death, that is accompanied by sorrow, O bhikkhus, dreadful, accompanied by dispair, I say.

3 If, O bhikkhus, there is lust for the nutriment contact, if there is delight, if there is thirsting, there, consciousness is established and has come to growth. Where consciousness is established and has come to growth, there, there is the descent of name-and-form. Where there is the descent of name-and-form, there, there is growth of sankharas. Where there is growth of sankharas, there, there is an actualization of a being again in the future. Where there is an actualization of a being again in the future, there, there is future old age and death. Where there is future old age and death, that is accompanied by sorrow, O bhikkhus, dreadful, accompanied by dispair, I say.

4 If, O bhikkhus, there is lust for the nutriment mental intention, if there is delight, if there is thirsting, there, consciousness is established and has come to growth. Where consciousness is established and has come to growth, there, there is the descent of name-and-form. Where there is the descent of name-and-form, there, there is growth of sankharas. Where there is growth of sankharas, there, there is an actualization of a being again in the future. Where there is an actualization of a being again in the future, there, there is future old age and death. Where there is future old age and death, that is accompanied by sorrow, O bhikkhus, dreadful, accompanied by dispair, I say.

5 If, O bhikkhus, there is lust for the nutriment consciousness, if there is delight, if there is thirsting, there, consciousness is established and has come to growth. Where consciousness is established and has come to growth, there, there is the descent of name-and-form. Where there is the descent of name-and-form, there, there is growth of sankharas. Where there is growth of sankharas, there, there is an actualization of a being again in the future. Where there is an actualization of a being again in the future, there, there is future old age and death. Where there is future old age and death, that is accompanied by sorrow, O bhikkhus, dreadful, accompanied by dispair, I say.

6 Suppose, O bhikkhus, there being a red or yellow or blue or crimson dye, an artist or a painter would create on a well-prepared plank, wall or canvas, the figure of a man or woman complete in all its features.

7 So too, O bhikkhus, if there is lust for the nutriment food eaten in lumps, if there is delight, if there is thirsting, there, consciousness is established and has come to growth. Where consciousness is established and has come to growth, there, there is the descent of name-and-form. Where there is the descent of name-and-form, there, there is growth of sankharas. Where there is growth of sankharas, there, there is an actualization of a being again in the future. Where there is an actualization of a being again in the future, there, there is future old age and death. Where there is future old age and death, that is accompanied by sorrow, O bhikkhus, dreadful, accompanied by dispair, I say.

8 If, O bhikkhus, there is lust for the nutriment contact, if there is delight, if there is thirsting, there, consciousness is established and has come to growth. Where consciousness is established and has come to growth, there, there is the descent of name-and-form. Where there is the descent of name-and-form, there, there is growth of sankharas. Where there is growth of sankharas, there, there is an actualization of a being again in the future. Where there is an actualization of a being again in the future, there, there is future old age and death. Where there is future old age and death, that is accompanied by sorrow, O bhikkhus, dreadful, accompanied by dispair, I say.

9 If, O bhikkhus, there is lust for the nutriment mental intention, if there is delight, if there is thirsting, there, consciousness is established and has come to growth. Where consciousness is established and has come to growth, there, there is the descent of name-and-form. Where there is the descent of name-and-form, there, there is growth of sankharas. Where there is growth of sankharas, there, there is an actualization of a being again in the future. Where there is an actualization of a being again in the future, there, there is future old age and death. Where there is future old age and death, that is accompanied by sorrow, O bhikkhus, dreadful, accompanied by dispair, I say.

10 If, O bhikkhus, there is lust for the nutriment consciousness, if there is delight, if there is thirsting, there, consciousness is established and has come to growth. Where consciousness is established and has come to growth, there, there is the descent of name-and-form. Where there is the descent of name-and-form, there, there is growth of sankharas. Where there is growth of sankharas, there, there is an actualization of a being again in the future. Where there is an actualization of a being again in the future, there, there is future old age and death. Where there is future old age and death, that is accompanied by sorrow, O bhikkhus, dreadful, accompanied by dispair, I say.

11 If, O bhikkhus, there is not lust for the nutriment food eaten in lumps, if there is not delight, if there is not thirsting, there, consciousness is unestablished and has not come to growth. Where consciousness is unestablished and has not come to growth, there, there is not the descent of name-and-form. Where there is not the descent of name-and-form, there, there is not growth of sankharas. Where there is not growth of sankharas, there, there is not an actualization of a being again in the future. Where there is not an actualization of a being again in the future, there, there is no future old age and death. Where there is no future old age and death, that is free from sorrow, O bhikkhus, free from dread, free from dispair, I say.

12 If, O bhikkhus, there is not lust for the nutriment contact, if there is not delight, if there is not thirsting, there, consciousness is unestablished and has not come to growth. Where consciousness is unestablished and has not come to growth, there, there is not the descent of name-and-form. Where there is not the descent of name-and-form, there, there is not growth of sankharas. Where there is not growth of sankharas, there, there is not an actualization of a being again in the future. Where there is not an actualization of a being again in the future, there, there is no future old age and death. Where there is no future old age and death, that is free from sorrow, O bhikkhus, free from dread, free from dispair, I say.

13 If, O bhikkhus, there is not lust for the nutriment mental intention, if there is not delight, if there is not thirsting, there, consciousness is unestablished and has not come to growth. Where consciousness is unestablished and has not come to growth, there, there is not the descent of name-and-form. Where there is not the descent of name-and-form, there, there is not growth of sankharas. Where there is not growth of sankharas, there, there is not an actualization of a being again in the future. Where there is not an actualization of a being again in the future, there, there is no future old age and death. Where there is no future old age and death, that is free from sorrow, O bhikkhus, free from dread, free from dispair, I say.

14 If, O bhikkhus, there is not lust for the nutriment consciousness, if there is not delight, if there is not thirsting, there, consciousness is unestablished and has not come to growth. Where consciousness is unestablished and has not come to growth, there, there is not the descent of name-and-form. Where there is not the descent of name-and-form, there, there is not growth of sankharas. Where there is not growth of sankharas, there, there is not an actualization of a being again in the future. Where there is not an actualization of a being again in the future, there, there is no future old age and death. Where there is no future old age and death, that is free from sorrow, O bhikkhus, free from dread, free from dispair, I say.

15 Just as, O bhikkhus, a building with a peaked roof or a hall with a peaked roof would have window to the north or south or west. “If the sun rises with its ray of light having passed through the window, where will it be established?” “On the western wall, O Bhante.” “If there were not a western wall, O bhikkhus, where will it be established?” “On the earth, O Bhante.” “If there were no earth, O bhikkhus, where will it be established?” “On the water, O Bhante.” “If there were no water, O bhikkhus, where will it be established?” “It will be unestablished, O Bhante.”

16 So too, O bhikkhus, if there is not lust for the nutriment food eaten in lumps, if there is not delight, if there is not thirsting, there, consciousness is unestablished and has not come to growth. Where consciousness is unestablished and has not come to growth, there, there is not the descent of name-and-form. Where there is not the descent of name-and-form, there, there is not growth of sankharas. Where there is not growth of sankharas, there, there is not an actualization of a being again in the future. Where there is not an actualization of a being again in the future, there, there is no future old age and death. Where there is no future old age and death, that is free from sorrow, O bhikkhus, free from dread, free from dispair, I say.

17 If, O bhikkhus, there is not lust for the nutriment contact, if there is not delight, if there is not thirsting, there, consciousness is unestablished and has not come to growth. Where consciousness is unestablished and has not come to growth, there, there is not the descent of name-and-form. Where there is not the descent of name-and-form, there, there is not growth of sankharas. Where there is not growth of sankharas, there, there is not an actualization of a being again in the future. Where there is not an actualization of a being again in the future, there, there is no future old age and death. Where there is no future old age and death, that is free from sorrow, O bhikkhus, free from dread, free from dispair, I say.

18 If, O bhikkhus, there is not lust for the nutriment mental intention, if there is not delight, if there is not thirsting, there, consciousness is unestablished and has not come to growth. Where consciousness is unestablished and has not come to growth, there, there is not the descent of name-and-form. Where there is not the descent of name-and-form, there, there is not growth of sankharas. Where there is not growth of sankharas, there, there is not an actualization of a being again in the future. Where there is not an actualization of a being again in the future, there, there is no future old age and death. Where there is no future old age and death, that is free from sorrow, O bhikkhus, free from dread, free from dispair, I say.

19 If, O bhikkhus, there is not lust for the nutriment consciousness, if there is not delight, if there is not thirsting, there, consciousness is unestablished and has not come to growth. Where consciousness is unestablished and has not come to growth, there, there is not the descent of name-and-form. Where there is not the descent of name-and-form, there, there is not growth of sankharas. Where there is not growth of sankharas, there, there is not an actualization of a being again in the future. Where there is not an actualization of a being again in the future, there, there is no future old age and death. Where there is no future old age and death, that is free from sorrow, O bhikkhus, free from dread, free from dispair, I say.

1 cattārome bhikkhave, āhārā bhūtānaṃ vā sattānaṃ ṭhitiyā sambhavesīnaṃ vā anuggahāya. katame cattāro? kabalīkāro āhāro oḷāriko vā sukhumo vā, phasso dutiyo, manosañcetanā tatiyā, viññāṇaṃ catutthaṃ. ime kho bhikkhave, cattāro āhārā bhūtānaṃ vā sattānaṃ ṭhitiyā sambhavesīnaṃ vā anuggahāya.

2 kabalīkāre ce bhikkhave, āhāre atthi rāgo, atthi nandi, atthi taṇhā patiṭṭhitaṃ tattha viññāṇaṃ virūḷhaṃ. yattha patiṭṭhitaṃ viññāṇaṃ virūḷhaṃ atthi tattha nāmarūpassa avakkanti. yattha atthi nāmarūpassa avakkanti, atthi tattha saṃkhārānaṃ vuddhi. yattha atthi saṃkhārānaṃ vuddhi, atthi tattha āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. yattha atthi āyatiṃ punabbavābhinibbanti, atthi tattha āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ. yattha atthi āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, sasokaṃ taṃ bhikkhave, sadaraṃ saupāyāsanti vadāmi.

3 phasse ce bhikkhave, āhāre atthi rāgo, atthi nandi, atthi taṇhā patiṭṭhitaṃ tattha viññāṇaṃ virūḷhaṃ yattha patiṭṭhitaṃ viññāṇaṃ virūḷhaṃ atthi tattha nāmarūpassa avakkanti. yattha atthi nāmarūpassa avakkanti, atthi tattha saṃkhārānaṃ vuddhi. yattha atthi saṃkhārānaṃ vuddhi, atthi tattha āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. yattha atthi āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti, atthi tattha āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ. yattha atthi āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, sasokaṃ taṃ bhikkhave, sadaraṃ saupāyāsanti vadāmi.

4 manosañcetanāya ce bhikkhave, āhāre atthi rāgo, atthi nandi, atthi taṇhā. patiṭṭhitaṃ tattha viññāṇaṃ virūḷhaṃ. yattha patiṭṭhitaṃ viññāṇaṃ virūḷhaṃ, atthi tattha nāmarūpassa avakkanti. yattha atthi nāmarūpassa avakkanti, atthi tattha saṃkhārānaṃ vuddhi. yattha atthi saṃkhārānaṃ vuddhi, atthi tattha āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. yattha atthi āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. atthi tattha āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇa, yattha atthi āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, sasokaṃ taṃ bhikkhave sadaraṃ saupāyāsanti vadāmi.

5 viññāṇe ce bhikkhave, āhāre atthi rāgo, atthi nandi, atthi taṇhā. patiṭṭhitaṃ tattha viññāṇaṃ virūḷhaṃ. yattha patiṭṭhitaṃ viññāṇaṃ virūḷhaṃ, atthi tattha nāmarūpassa avakkanti. yattha atthi nāmarūpassa avakkanti, atthi tattha saṃkhārānaṃ vuddhi, yattha atthi saṃkhārānaṃ vuddhi, atthi tattha āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. yattha atthi āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. atthi tattha āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, yattha atthi āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, sasokaṃ taṃ bhikkhave sadaraṃ saupāyāsanti vadāmi.

6 seyyathāpi bhikkhave, rajako vā cittakāro vā sati rajanāya vā lākhāya vā haḷiddiyā vā nīliyā vā mañjiṭṭhāya vā sumaṭṭhe vā phalake vā bhittiyā vā dussapaṭe 'vā itthirūpaṃ vā purisarūpaṃ vā abhinimmiṇeyya sabbaṅgapaccaṅgaṃ.

7 evameva kho bhikkhave, kabalīkāre ce āhāre atthi rāgo, atthi nandi, atthi taṇhā: patiṭṭhitaṃ tattha viññāṇaṃ virūḷhaṃ. yattha patiṭṭhitaṃ viññāṇaṃ virūḷhaṃ, atthi tattha nāmarūpassa avakkanti. yattha atthi nāmarūpassa avakkanti, atthi tattha saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi. yattha atthi saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi, atthi tattha āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. yattha atthi āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti, atthi tattha āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ. yattha atthi āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ sasokaṃ taṃ bhikkhave, sadaraṃ saupāyāsanti vadāmi.

8 phasse ce bhikkhave, āhāre atthi rāgo, atthi nandi, atthi taṇhā patiṭṭhitaṃ tattha viññāṇaṃ virūḷhaṃ yattha patiṭṭhitaṃ viññāṇaṃ virūḷhaṃ atthi tattha nāmarūpassa avakkanti. yattha atthi nāmarūpassa avakkanti, atthi tattha saṃkhārānaṃ vuddhi. yattha atthi saṃkhārānaṃ vuddhi, atthi tattha āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. yattha atthi āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti, atthi tattha āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ. yattha atthi āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, sasokaṃ taṃ bhikkhave, sadaraṃ saupāyāsanti vadāmi.

9 manosañcetanāya ce bhikkhave, āhāre atthi rāgo, atthi nandi, atthi taṇhā. patiṭṭhitaṃ tattha viññāṇaṃ virūḷhaṃ. yattha patiṭṭhitaṃ viññāṇaṃ virūḷhaṃ, atthi tattha nāmarūpassa avakkanti. yattha atthi nāmarūpassa avakkanti, atthi tattha saṃkhārānaṃ vuddhi. yattha atthi saṃkhārānaṃ vuddhi, atthi tattha āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. yattha atthi āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. atthi tattha āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇa, yattha atthi āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, sasokaṃ taṃ bhikkhave sadaraṃ saupāyāsanti vadāmi.

10 viññāṇe ce bhikkhave, āhāre atthi rāgo, atthi nandi, atthi taṇhā. patiṭṭhitaṃ tattha viññāṇaṃ virūḷhaṃ. yattha patiṭṭhitaṃ viññāṇaṃ virūḷhaṃ, atthi tattha nāmarūpassa avakkanti. yattha atthi nāmarūpassa avakkanti, atthi tattha saṃkhārānaṃ vuddhi, yattha atthi saṃkhārānaṃ vuddhi, atthi tattha āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. yattha atthi āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. atthi tattha āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, yattha atthi āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, sasokaṃ taṃ bhikkhave sadaraṃ saupāyāsanti vadāmi.

11 kabalīkāre ce bhikkhave āhāre natthi rāgo, natthi nandi, natthi taṇhā. appatiṭṭhitaṃ tattha viññāṇaṃ avirūḷhaṃ. yattha appatiṭṭhitaṃ viññāṇaṃ avirūḷhaṃ, natthi tattha nāmarūpassa avakkanti. yattha natthi nāmarūpassa avakkanti, natthi tattha saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi. yattha natthi saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi, natthi tattha āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. yattha natthi āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti, natthi tattha āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ. yattha natthi āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, asokaṃ taṃ bhikkhave, adaraṃ anupāyāsanti vadāmi.

12 phasse ce bhikkhave, āhāre natthi rāgo, natthi nandi, natthi taṇhā. appatiṭṭhitaṃ tattha viññāṇaṃ avirūḷhaṃ yattha appatiṭṭhitaṃ viññāṇaṃ avirūḷhaṃ, natthi tattha nāmarūpassa avakkanti. yattha natthi nāmarūpassa avakkanti, natthi tattha saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi. yattha natthi saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi, natthi tattha āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. yattha natthi āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti, natthi tattha āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ. yattha natthi āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, asokaṃ taṃ bhikkhave, adaraṃ anupāyāsanti vadāmi.

13 manosañcetanāya ce bhikkhave, āhāre natthi rāgo, natthi nandi, natthi taṇhā. appatiṭṭhitaṃ tattha viññāṇaṃ avirūḷhaṃ yattha appatiṭṭhitaṃ viññāṇaṃ avirūḷhaṃ, natthi tattha nāmarūpassa avakkanti. yattha natthi nāmarūpassa avakkanti, natthi tattha saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi. yattha natthi saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi, natthi tattha āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. yattha natthi āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti, natthi tattha āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ. yattha natthi āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, asokaṃ taṃ bhikkhave, adaraṃ anupāyāsanti vadāmi.

14 viññāṇe ce bhikkhave, āhāre natthi rāgo, natthi nandi, natthi taṇhā. appatiṭṭhitaṃ tattha viññāṇaṃ avirūḷhaṃ yattha appatiṭṭhitaṃ viññāṇaṃ avirūḷhaṃ, natthi tattha nāmarūpassa avakkanti. yattha natthi nāmarūpassa avakkanti, natthi tattha saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi. yattha natthi saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi, natthi tattha āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. yattha natthi āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti, natthi tattha āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ. yattha natthi āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, asokaṃ taṃ bhikkhave, adaraṃ anupāyāsanti vadāmi.

15 seyyathāpi bhikkhave, kūṭāgāraṃ vā kūṭāgārasālā vā uttarāya vā dakkhiṇāya vā pācīnāya vā vātapānā suriye uggacchante vātapānena rasmi pavisitvā kvāssa patiṭṭhitāti. pacchimāya bhante, bhittiyanti. pacchimā ce bhikkhave, bhitti nāssa, kvāssa patiṭṭhitāti? paṭhaviyaṃ bhante'ti paṭhavi ce bhikkhave, nāssa, kvāssa patiṭṭhitāti? āpasmaṃ bhante'ti āpo ce bhikkhave, nāssa kvāssa, patiṭṭhitāti? appatiṭṭhitā bhante'ti.

16 evameva kho bhikkhave, kabalīkāre ce āhāre natthi rāgo, natthi nandi, natthi taṇhā. appatiṭṭhitaṃ tattha viññāṇaṃ avirūḷhaṃ. yattha appatiṭṭhitaṃ viññāṇaṃ avirūḷhaṃ, natthi tattha nāmarūpassa avakkanti. yattha natthi nāmarūpassa avakkanti, natthi tattha saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi. yattha natthi saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi, natthi tattha āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. yattha natthi āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti, natthi tattha āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ. yattha natthi āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, asokaṃ taṃ bhikkhave, adaraṃ anupāyāsanti vadāmi.

17 phasse ce bhikkhave, āhāre natthi rāgo, natthi nandi, natthi taṇhā. appatiṭṭhitaṃ tattha viññāṇaṃ avirūḷhaṃ yattha appatiṭṭhitaṃ viññāṇaṃ avirūḷhaṃ, natthi tattha nāmarūpassa avakkanti. yattha natthi nāmarūpassa avakkanti, natthi tattha saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi. yattha natthi saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi, natthi tattha āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. yattha natthi āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti, natthi tattha āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ. yattha natthi āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, asokaṃ taṃ bhikkhave, adaraṃ anupāyāsanti vadāmi.

18 manosañcetanāya ce bhikkhave, āhāre natthi rāgo, natthi nandi, natthi taṇhā. appatiṭṭhitaṃ tattha viññāṇaṃ avirūḷhaṃ yattha appatiṭṭhitaṃ viññāṇaṃ avirūḷhaṃ, natthi tattha nāmarūpassa avakkanti. yattha natthi nāmarūpassa avakkanti, natthi tattha saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi. yattha natthi saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi, natthi tattha āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. yattha natthi āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti, natthi tattha āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ. yattha natthi āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, asokaṃ taṃ bhikkhave, adaraṃ anupāyāsanti vadāmi.

19 viññāṇe ce bhikkhave, āhāre natthi rāgo, natthi nandi, natthi taṇhā. appatiṭṭhitaṃ tattha viññāṇaṃ avirūḷhaṃ yattha appatiṭṭhitaṃ viññāṇaṃ avirūḷhaṃ, natthi tattha nāmarūpassa avakkanti. yattha natthi nāmarūpassa avakkanti, natthi tattha saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi. yattha natthi saṅkhārānaṃ vuddhi, natthi tattha āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti. yattha natthi āyatiṃ punabbhavābhinibbatti, natthi tattha āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ. yattha natthi āyatiṃ jātijarāmaraṇaṃ, asokaṃ taṃ bhikkhave, adaraṃ anupāyāsanti vadāmi.