諸經要集 5.61

5.61

如增一阿含經云。爾時世尊告諸比丘。眾生之類有四種食。長養眾生。何等為四。所謂段食。或大或小。更樂食念食識食。是謂四食。彼云何段食。謂今人中所食。諸入口之物可食噉者。是謂段食。云何更樂食。謂衣裳繖蓋。雜香華熏火及香油。與婦人集聚。諸餘身體所更樂者。是謂更樂食。云何念食。謂意中所念所想所思惟者。或以口說。或以體觸。及諸所持之法。是謂念食。云何識食。謂意之所知。梵天為首。乃至有想無想天。以識為食。是謂識食。以此四食流轉生死。

As the Ekottarika-āgama says: At that time, the Bhagavat addressed the bhikṣus: "There are four kinds of nutriment that sustain the varieties of living beings. What are the four? They are called: solid nutriment, whether large or small; contact nutriment; volition nutriment; and consciousness nutriment. These are called the four nutriments. What is solid nutriment? It refers to that which is eaten among human beings today: all things that enter the mouth and can be eaten; this is called solid nutriment. What is contact nutriment? It refers to garments, parasols, mixed incense and flowers, scent from fires, fragrant oils, gathering with women, and all other things experienced and enjoyed by the body; this is called contact nutriment. What is volition nutriment? It refers to that which is thought of, conceived, and reflected upon in the mind, whether spoken with the mouth, touched with the body, or the various dharmas that are held; this is called volition nutriment. What is consciousness nutriment? It refers to that which is known by the mind; with the Brahmā Heaven at the head, up to the Heaven of Neither Perception nor Non-perception, consciousness serves as nutriment; this is called consciousness nutriment. Beings transmigrate through birth and death through these four nutriments."