法苑珠林 72.23

72.23

Question: It is not yet known which nutriment predominates in each respective destiny? Answer: As explained in the Abhidharma: Among the six destinies, in the entire ghost destiny, among the egg-born, and in the first three formless [heavens], volitional nutriment is particularly predominant. Why is this? Because in that hungry ghost destiny mental activities are abundant; when egg-born beings are inside the eggshell, because they think of their mother, the egg is kept from spoiling; and the first three formless [heavens] are likewise so because mental activity and thinking are abundant. Therefore, in all of these, volitional nutriment is predominant. Furthermore, in this human destiny and in the six heavens of the desire realm, material nutriment is particularly predominant. Why is this? Because in these two places one must rely on food to maintain physical life. Furthermore, in that hell destiny and in [the heaven of] Neither Perception nor Non-perception, consciousness nutriment is entirely predominant. Why is this? Because in the hells, consciousness maintains name-and-form; in the stage of Neither Perception, consciousness maintains name. Furthermore, in that form realm and among the moisture-born, contact nutriment is entirely predominant. Why is this? Because in the form realm, the tactile bliss of cultivating the various dhyānas is experienced to maintain the body; and among the moisture-born, they maintain bodily life through moist contact.