2.
The Discourse on Craving
62.
"A first point, monks, is not discerned of craving for existence -
'Before this, craving for existence did not exist, then afterwards it came into being.'
Even though this is said, monks, and yet it is discerned -
'Craving for existence has this as condition.'
"I say, monks, that craving for existence has nutriment, not that it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of craving for existence? 'Ignorance' should be said. I say, monks, that ignorance has nutriment, not that it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of ignorance? 'The five mental hindrances' should be said. I say, monks, that the five mental hindrances have nutriment, not that they are without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of the five mental hindrances? 'The three kinds of misconduct' should be said. I say, monks, that the three kinds of misconduct have nutriment, not that they are without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of the three kinds of misconduct? 'Non-restraint of the faculties' should be said. I say, monks, that non-restraint of the faculties has nutriment, not that it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of non-restraint of the faculties? 'Lack of mindfulness and full awareness' should be said. I say, monks, that lack of mindfulness and full awareness has nutriment, not that it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of lack of mindfulness and full awareness? 'Unwise attention' should be said. I say, monks, that unwise attention has nutriment, not that it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of unwise attention? 'Faithlessness' should be said. I say, monks, that faithlessness has nutriment, not that it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of faithlessness? 'Not hearing the Good Teaching' should be said. I say, monks, that not hearing the Good Teaching has nutriment, not that it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of not hearing the Good Teaching? 'Associating with bad persons' should be said.
"Thus indeed, monks, associating with bad persons being complete fulfils not hearing the Good Teaching, not hearing the Good Teaching being complete fulfils faithlessness, faithlessness being complete fulfils unwise attention, unwise attention being complete fulfils lack of mindfulness and full awareness, lack of mindfulness and full awareness being complete fulfils non-restraint of the faculties, non-restraint of the faculties being complete fulfils the three kinds of misconduct, the three kinds of misconduct being complete fulfil the five mental hindrances, the five mental hindrances being complete fulfil ignorance, ignorance being complete fulfils craving for existence; thus is the nutriment of this craving for existence, and thus is its fulfilment.
"Just as, monks, when the sky rains with large drops on the upper mountain, that water flowing according to the slope fills the mountain grottoes, clefts, and channels; the mountain grottoes, clefts, and channels being full, fill the small pools; the small pools being full, fill the large pools; the large pools being full, fill the rivulets; the rivulets being full, fill the great rivers; the great rivers being full, fill the great ocean and sea; thus is the nutriment of this great ocean, and thus its fulfilment.
"So too, monks, associating with bad persons being complete fulfils not hearing the Good Teaching, not hearing the Good Teaching being complete fulfils faithlessness, faithlessness being complete fulfils unwise attention, unwise attention being complete fulfils lack of mindfulness and full awareness, lack of mindfulness and full awareness being complete fulfils non-restraint of the faculties, non-restraint of the faculties being complete fulfils the three kinds of misconduct, the three kinds of misconduct being complete fulfil the five mental hindrances, the five mental hindrances being complete fulfil ignorance, ignorance being complete fulfils craving for existence; thus is the nutriment of this craving for existence, and thus is its fulfilment.
"True knowledge and liberation too, monks, I say has nutriment, not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of true knowledge and liberation? 'The seven factors of enlightenment' should be said. The seven factors of enlightenment too, monks, I say have nutriment, not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of the seven factors of enlightenment? 'The four establishments of mindfulness' should be said. The four establishments of mindfulness too, monks, I say have nutriment, not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of the four establishments of mindfulness? 'The three kinds of good conduct' should be said. The three kinds of good conduct too, monks, I say have nutriment, not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of the three kinds of good conduct? 'Restraint of the faculties' should be said. Restraint of the faculties too, monks, I say has nutriment, not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of restraint of the faculties? 'Mindfulness and full awareness' should be said. Mindfulness and full awareness too, monks, I say has nutriment, not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of mindfulness and full awareness? 'Wise attention' should be said. Wise attention too, monks, I say has nutriment, not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of wise attention? 'Faith' should be said. Faith too, monks, I say has nutriment, not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of faith? 'Hearing the Good Teaching' should be said. Hearing the Good Teaching too, monks, I say has nutriment, not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of hearing the Good Teaching? 'Associating with good persons' should be said.
"Thus indeed, monks, associating with good persons being complete fulfils hearing the Good Teaching, hearing the Good Teaching being complete fulfils faith, faith being complete fulfils wise attention, wise attention being complete fulfils mindfulness and full awareness, mindfulness and full awareness being complete fulfils restraint of the faculties, restraint of the faculties being complete fulfils the three kinds of good conduct, the three kinds of good conduct being complete fulfil the four establishments of mindfulness, the four establishments of mindfulness being complete fulfil the seven factors of enlightenment, the seven factors of enlightenment being complete fulfil true knowledge and liberation; thus there is the nutriment for this true knowledge and liberation, and thus is its fulfilment.
"Just as, monks, when the sky rains with large drops on the upper mountain, that water flowing according to the slope, etc. thus is the nutriment of this great ocean, and thus its fulfilment. So too, monks, associating with good persons being complete fulfils hearing the Good Teaching, etc. thus there is the nutriment for this true knowledge and liberation, and thus is its fulfilment." The second.