At Sāvatthi.
“Bhikkhus, I will teach you about the |nutriment::fuel, sustenance [āhāra]| and the lack of nutriment for the five hindrances and the seven factors of awakening. Listen to this.
Nutriment for Arising of Hindrances
1. What, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen |sensual desire::passion or lust for sensual pleasures [kāmarāga]| and for the increase and expansion of arisen sensual desire? There is, bhikkhus, a beautiful mental image. Frequently giving careless attention to the sign of beautiful is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen sensual desire and for the increase and expansion of arisen sensual desire.
2. What, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen |ill will::aversion, anger, contempt, resentment [byāpāda]| and for the increase and expansion of arisen ill will? There is, bhikkhus, an aversive mental image. Frequently giving careless attention to the sign of resistance is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen ill will and for the increase and expansion of arisen ill will.
3. And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen |dullness and drowsiness::
lack or mental clarity or alertness, mental sluggishness, lethargy, sleepiness lit. stiffness (of mind/body due to tiredness) [thinamiddha]| and for the increase and expansion of arisen dullness and drowsiness? There is, bhikkhus, dissatisfaction, laziness, yawning, passing out after a meal, and sluggishness of mind. Frequently giving careless attention to these is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen dullness and for the increase and expansion of arisen dullness.
4. And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen |restlessness and worry::agitation and edginess, distraction, fidgeting, fiddling, uneasiness [uddhaccakukkucca]| and for the increase and expansion of arisen restlessness and worry? There is, bhikkhus, the unsettled mind. Frequently giving careless attention to it is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen restlessness and worry and for the increase and expansion of arisen restlessness and worry.
5. And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen |doubt::uncertainty, indecisiveness [vicikiccha]| and for the increase and expansion of arisen doubt? There are, bhikkhus, things that lead to 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.
Nutriment for Arising of Factors of Awakening
1. And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen |awakening factor of mindfulness::mindfulness of body, feelings, mind, mental qualities [satisambojjhaṅga]| and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of mindfulness? There are, bhikkhus, things that are suitable for the awakening factor of mindfulness. Frequently giving careful attention to them is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of mindfulness and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of mindfulness.
2. And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen |awakening factor of investigation of states::the quality of discriminative investigation into states, mental qualities and other phenomena; analyzing the teaching as an factor of enlightenment; second of the seven awakening factors [dhammavicayasambojjhaṅga]| and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of investigation of states? There are, bhikkhus, wholesome and unwholesome things, blamable and blameless things, inferior and superior things, and things similar to the dark and the bright. Frequently giving careful attention to them is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of investigation of states and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of investigation of states.
3. And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen |awakening factor of energy::the quality of unrelenting effort, the sustaining power of persistence as a factor of enlightenment; third of the seven awakening factors [vīriyasambojjhaṅga]| and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of energy? There is, bhikkhus, taking initiative, persistence, and continuous effort. Frequently giving careful attention to these is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of energy and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of energy.
4. And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen |awakening factor of joy::the quality of heartfelt gladness, spiritual rapture untainted by sensuality, as a factor of enlightenment; fourth of the seven awakening factors [pītisambojjhaṅga]| and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of joy? There are, bhikkhus, things that are suitable for the awakening factor of joy. Frequently giving careful attention to them is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of joy and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of joy.
5. And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen |awakening factor of tranquility::the quality of inner stillness, bodily and mental calm, as a factor of enlightenment; fifth of the seven awakening factors [passaddhisambojjhaṅga]| and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of tranquility? There is, bhikkhus, tranquility of body and tranquility of mind. Frequently giving careful attention to these is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of tranquility and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of tranquility.
6. And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen |awakening factor of collectedness::the quality of unification, stability, and deep focus of the mind, as a factor of enlightenment; sixth of the seven awakening factors [samādhisambojjhaṅga]| and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of collectedness? There is, bhikkhus, the basis for calming and the basis for non-distraction. Frequently giving careful attention to these is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of collectedness and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of collectedness.
7. And what, bhikkhus, is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen |awakening factor of equanimity::the quality of balanced observation, non-reactivity, and mental equipoise as a factor of enlightenment; seventh of the seven awakening factors [upekkhāsambojjhaṅga]| and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of equanimity? There are, bhikkhus, things that are suitable for the awakening factor of equanimity. Frequently giving careful attention to them is the nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of equanimity and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of equanimity.
Lack of Nutriment for Arising of Hindrances
1. And what, bhikkhus, is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen sensual desire and for the increase and expansion of arisen sensual desire? There is, bhikkhus, an unattractive mental image. Frequently giving careful attention to it is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen sensual desire and for the increase and expansion of arisen sensual desire.
2. And what, bhikkhus, is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen ill will and for the increase and expansion of arisen ill will? There is, bhikkhus, the liberation of mind through loving-kindness. Frequently giving careful attention to it is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen ill will and for the increase and expansion of arisen ill will.
3. And what, bhikkhus, is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen dullness and for the increase and expansion of arisen dullness? There is, bhikkhus, taking initiative, persistence, and continuous effort. Frequently giving careful attention to these is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen dullness and for the increase and expansion of arisen dullness.
4. And what, bhikkhus, is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen restlessness and for the increase and expansion of arisen restlessness? There is, bhikkhus, settling of mind. Frequently giving careful attention to it is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen restlessness and for the increase and expansion of arisen restlessness.
5. And what, bhikkhus, is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen doubt and for the increase and expansion of arisen doubt? There are, bhikkhus, wholesome and unwholesome things, blameworthy and blameless things, coarse and refined things, and things similar to the dark and the bright. Frequently giving careful attention to them is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen doubt and for the increase and expansion of arisen doubt.
Lack of Nutriment for Arising of Factors of Awakening
1. And what, bhikkhus, is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of mindfulness and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of mindfulness? There are, bhikkhus, things that are suitable for the awakening factor of mindfulness. Frequently giving careless attention to them is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of mindfulness and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of mindfulness.
2. And what, bhikkhus, is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of investigation of states [through the teachings] and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of investigation of states? There are, bhikkhus, wholesome and unwholesome things, blameworthy and blameless things, coarse and refined things, and things similar to the dark and the bright. Frequently giving careless attention to them is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of investigation of states and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of investigation of states.
3. And what, bhikkhus, is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of energy and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of energy? There is, bhikkhus, taking initiative, persistence, and continuous effort. Frequently giving careless attention to these is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of energy and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of energy.
4. And what, bhikkhus, is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of joy and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of joy? There are, bhikkhus, things that are suitable for the awakening factor of joy. Frequently giving careless attention to them is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of joy and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of joy.
5. And what, bhikkhus, is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of tranquility and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of tranquility? There is, bhikkhus, tranquility of body and tranquility of mind. Frequently giving careless attention to these is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of tranquility and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of tranquility.
6. And what, bhikkhus, is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of collectedness and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of collectedness? There is, bhikkhus, the basis for calmning and the basis for non-distraction. Frequently giving careless attention to these is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of collectedness and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of collectedness.
7. And what, bhikkhus, is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of equanimity and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of equanimity? There are, bhikkhus, things that are suitable for the awakening factor of equanimity. Frequently giving careless attention to them is the lack of nutriment for the arising of unarisen awakening factor of equanimity and for the development and completion of the arisen awakening factor of equanimity.