Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

22 Vimuttimaggato arise; the seventh: one takes (food and drink) finding satisfaction withlittle; the eighth: one takes (food and drink) faultlessly and dwells in comfort. 1Q. What is 'one does not take (food and drink) for the sake of violentsport or intoxication' ?A. "I take food greedily. I am strong. Therefore, I like violent sport,rough play, competing with others and running." These constitute 'violentsport'. 'Intoxication' means self-arrogance and dissatisfaction. It is likenedto the state of an angry man who beats another. 'Not for the sake of personalcharm and beautification': (Not like) those who wish to be loved for thefullness of their body and limbs and good looks, and do not know contentment,being full of desires. 'One takes (food and drink) in order to sustain the bodyand to preserve it': As a hub needs oil, so one yearns for the peaceful preservationof the body. 'One takes (food and drink) in order to stay hunger andthirst': One, always, takes little food. As a man uses medicine for a diseaseof the skin, so one takes. 'One takes (food and drink) in order to observe theholy life': One wishes to reach the Noble Path through the advantages ofabstemiousness. Feeling as a man who eats the flesh of his child, one takes. 2'Intended to remove old ills and not to allow new ills to arise': One takesnot too little and not too much. As a man taking a mixture, so one takes.'One takes (food and drink) finding satisfaction in little': One keeps one'sbody safe accepting little, always treating one's body as a nurse (treats apatient). 'Faultlessly' means one sets one's body at ease with little. Usingin this way, one makes the body faultless and escapes the reproof of the wise.Thus 'one takes (food and drink) faultlessly and dwells in comfort'.Tf one's food is suitable, one never feels tired and one does not sleep inthe first, middle and last watches of the night. In this way one fulfils tranquillity.Thus 'through eight ways one wisely reflects in accepting alms'. Thus oneshould accept.And again, these eight ways are shortened to four considerations: theconsideration of what ought to be cut down, the consideration of reality, theconsideration of being satisfied with little, the consideration of accepting little.Q. What is 'the consideration of what ought to be cut down' ?A, The state of not being addicted to 'violent sport', not being in a stateof 'intoxication' and the state of not being concerned with 'personal charmand beautification' — these are called 'the consideration of what ought to becut down'.Using 'in order to sustain the body and to preserve it', 'in order to stayhunger and thirst', and 'in order to observe the holy life' — these are called'the consideration of reality'.1. A. IT, 40: Jdha bhikkhave bhikkhu patisankhd yotriso dhdtarii dhdreti, neva davdya namaddya na mandandya na vihhusandya ydvad eva imassa kdyassa thitiya ydpandyavihimsuparatiyd brahmaeariydnuggahdya: iti purdnah ca vedanam patihankhdmi navafica vedanam na uppddessdmi, ydtrd ca me bhavissati anavajjatd ca phasu-vihdro cdti.2. S, II, 98. Also Th. 445: Uppajje ce rase tanhd putiamarmupamam sara.