Āhārasutta
Fuel
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme …
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. …
“cattārome, bhikkhave, āhārā bhūtānaṁ vā sattānaṁ ṭhitiyā sambhavesīnaṁ vā anuggahāya.
“Mendicants, there are these four fuels. They maintain sentient beings that have been born and help those that are about to be born.
Katame cattāro?
What four?
Kabaḷīkāro āhāro oḷāriko vā sukhumo vā, phasso dutiyo, manosañcetanā tatiyā, viññāṇaṁ catutthaṁ.
Solid food, whether solid or subtle; contact is the second, mental intention the third, and consciousness the fourth.
Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro āhārā bhūtānaṁ vā sattānaṁ ṭhitiyā sambhavesīnaṁ vā anuggahāya.
These are the four fuels that maintain sentient beings that have been born and help those that are about to be born.
Ime, bhikkhave, cattāro āhārā kiṁnidānā kiṁsamudayā kiṁjātikā kiṁpabhavā?
What is the source, origin, birthplace, and inception of these four fuels?
Ime cattāro āhārā taṇhānidānā taṇhāsamudayā taṇhājātikā taṇhāpabhavā.
Craving.
Taṇhā cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānā kiṁsamudayā kiṁjātikā kiṁpabhavā?
And what is the source, origin, birthplace, and inception of craving?
Taṇhā vedanānidānā vedanāsamudayā vedanājātikā vedanāpabhavā.
Feeling.
Vedanā cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānā kiṁsamudayā kiṁjātikā kiṁpabhavā?
And what is the source of feeling?
Vedanā phassanidānā phassasamudayā phassajātikā phassapabhavā.
Contact.
Phasso cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidāno kiṁsamudayo kiṁjātiko kiṁpabhavo?
And what is the source of contact?
Phasso saḷāyatananidāno saḷāyatanasamudayo saḷāyatanajātiko saḷāyatanapabhavo.
The six sense fields.
Saḷāyatanañcidaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānaṁ kiṁsamudayaṁ kiṁjātikaṁ kiṁpabhavaṁ?
And what is the source of the six sense fields?
Saḷāyatanaṁ nāmarūpanidānaṁ nāmarūpasamudayaṁ nāmarūpajātikaṁ nāmarūpapabhavaṁ.
Name and form.
Nāmarūpañcidaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānaṁ kiṁsamudayaṁ kiṁjātikaṁ kiṁpabhavaṁ?
And what is the source of name and form?
Nāmarūpaṁ viññāṇanidānaṁ viññāṇasamudayaṁ viññāṇajātikaṁ viññāṇapabhavaṁ.
Consciousness.
Viññāṇañcidaṁ, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānaṁ kiṁsamudayaṁ kiṁjātikaṁ kiṁpabhavaṁ?
And what is the source of consciousness?
Viññāṇaṁ saṅkhāranidānaṁ saṅkhārasamudayaṁ saṅkhārajātikaṁ saṅkhārapabhavaṁ.
Choices.
Saṅkhārā cime, bhikkhave, kiṁnidānā kiṁsamudayā kiṁjātikā kiṁpabhavā?
And what is the source of choices?
Saṅkhārā avijjānidānā avijjāsamudayā avijjājātikā avijjāpabhavā.
Ignorance.
Iti kho, bhikkhave, avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā;
And so, ignorance is a condition for choices.
saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ …pe…
Choices are a condition for consciousness. …
evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.
That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.
Avijjāya tveva asesavirāganirodhā saṅkhāranirodho;
When ignorance fades away and ceases with nothing left over, choices cease.
saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho …pe…
When choices cease, consciousness ceases. …
evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī”ti.
That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.”
