..续本文上一页nd-and-body (naama-ruupa). Accordingly it was said: "Just as this body subsists on nutriment, subsists because of nutriment, does not subsist without nutriment; in the same way, O monks, are feelings conditioned by sense-impression, is consciousness conditioned by kamma-formations (sa"nkhaara-cetanaa, ”karmic volition”), is mind-and-body conditioned by consciousness."

　　What is it, now, that is fed (or conditioned) by each of the four nutriments

　　 Edible food feeds and conditions the set of corporeal qualities that have nutritive essence as their eighth factor.[18] The nutriment sense-impression feeds and conditions the three kinds of feeling. The nutriment volitional thought feeds and conditions the three states of existence. The nutriment consciousness feeds and conditions mind-and-body at rebirth.

　　In which way does this take place

　　 Edible food, immediately when it is placed in the mouth, produces the eight corporeal qualities.[19] And each morsel that is chewed and swallowed produces again a set of the same eight qualities. Thus it is that edible food feeds and conditions the eight corporeal qualities that have nutritive essence as their eighth factor.

　　The nutriment sense-impression that is liable to be felt as pleasant, immediately on its arising feeds and conditions a pleasant feeling. And it is similar with sense-impressions liable to be felt as unpleasant or neutral. So does the nutriment sense-impression in all its types (visual impression, auditory, etc.) feed and condition the three kinds of feeling.

　　The nutriment volitional thought when occurring as kamma leading to rebirth on the sensuous plane, feeds and conditions sensuous existence. When occurring as kamma leading to rebirth on the fine-material or immaterial plane, it feeds and conditions the corresponding existence. So does the nutriment volitional thought in all cases feed and condition the three states of existence.

　　The nutriment consciousness, at the moment of rebirth, feeds and conditions the three other mental groups (khandhaa), conjoined with it; and by way of conascence-condition, etc., it feeds and conditions the thirty corporeal processes that arise in a triple continuity (ti-santati).[20] So does the nutriment consciousness feed and condition mind-and-body at rebirth.

　　When saying that "volitional thought feeds and conditions the three states of existence," only karmically wholesome and unwholesome volition, subject to the taints (saasava-kusala-akusala) is spoken of; and when saying that "consciousness feeds and conditions mind-and-body at rebirth," only rebirth-consciousness (pa.tisandhi-viññaa.na) is meant. But in general application these four are called "nutriments" (aahaara) because they carry or feed the mental processes associated with these nutriments, and the corporeal processes produced by them (ta.m-sampayutta-ta.m-samu.t.thaana-dhammaana.m aahara.nato).

　　The Functions

　　Among these four nutriments, edible food fulfills the function of nourishing, by way of sustaining (upatthambhento); sense-impression, by touching (providing contact; phusanto); volitional thought, by accumulating (kamma; aayuuhamaano); consciousness, by cognizing (vijaananta.m). In which way

　　The nutriment edible food sustaining[21] the body by fortifying it, serves for the (bodily) stability of beings. Though this body is produced by kamma, it is through being sustained by edible food that it lasts for 10 years or 100 years, until the end of a being”s normal life span. This may be compared, firstly, to a child that, though brought forth by the mother, is nourished by the wet-nurse at the breast, and is nurtured in other ways; and reared thus it lives long. Secondly it is like a (dilapidated) house propped up by supports. As it was said: "Just as a house that …

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