諸經要集 5.61

5.61

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."