[61] Bhikkhus, a first point (koṭi) of ignorance (avijjā) is not discerned, such that one might say: "Before this, ignorance was not; then afterwards it came into being." And though this is said thus, bhikkhus, nevertheless it is discerned: "With this as its condition, ignorance [comes to be]."
Bhikkhus, I say that ignorance has a nutriment (āhāra); it is not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of ignorance? "The five hindrances (nīvaraṇa)," it should be said. Bhikkhus, I say that the five hindrances too have a nutriment; they are not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of the five hindrances? "The three kinds of misconduct (duccarita)," it should be said. Bhikkhus, I say that the three kinds of misconduct too have a nutriment; they are not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of the three kinds of misconduct? "Non-restraint of the sense faculties (indriya-asaṃvara)," it should be said. Bhikkhus, I say that non-restraint of the sense faculties too has a nutriment; it is not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of non-restraint of the sense faculties? "Lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension," it should be said. Bhikkhus, I say that lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension too has a nutriment; it is not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension? "Careless attention (ayoniso manasikāra)," it should be said. Bhikkhus, I say that careless attention too has a nutriment; it is not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of careless attention? "Lack of faith (assaddhiya)," it should be said. Bhikkhus, I say that lack of faith too has a nutriment; it is not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of lack of faith? "Not hearing the true Dhamma (assaddhammassavana)," it should be said. Bhikkhus, I say that not hearing the true Dhamma too has a nutriment; it is not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of not hearing the true Dhamma? "Association with unworthy persons (asappurisasaṃseva)," it should be said.
Thus, bhikkhus, association with unworthy persons, when it is full, fills up not hearing the true Dhamma; not hearing the true Dhamma, when it is full, fills up lack of faith; lack of faith, when it is full, fills up careless attention; careless attention, when it is full, fills up lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension; lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension, when it is full, fills up non-restraint of the sense faculties; non-restraint of the sense faculties, when it is full, fills up the three kinds of misconduct; the three kinds of misconduct, when they are full, fill up the five hindrances; the five hindrances, when they are full, fill up ignorance. Such is the nutriment of this ignorance, and such its fulfillment.
Just as, bhikkhus, when the sky rains down in thick droplets upon a mountaintop, when the rain pours streaming down, that water, flowing along the slope, fills the mountain clefts, gullies, and creeks; the mountain clefts, gullies, and creeks, when they are full, fill the small pools; the small pools, when they are full, fill the large pools; the large pools, when they are full, fill the streams; the streams, when they are full, fill the great rivers; the great rivers, when they are full, fill the great ocean, the sea — such is the nutriment of that great ocean, the sea, and such its fulfillment — even so, bhikkhus, association with unworthy persons, when it is full, fills up not hearing the true Dhamma; not hearing the true Dhamma, when it is full, fills up lack of faith; lack of faith, when it is full, fills up careless attention; careless attention, when it is full, fills up lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension; lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension, when it is full, fills up non-restraint of the sense faculties; non-restraint of the sense faculties, when it is full, fills up the three kinds of misconduct; the three kinds of misconduct, when they are full, fill up the five hindrances; the five hindrances, when they are full, fill up ignorance. Such is the nutriment of this ignorance, and such its fulfillment.
Bhikkhus, I say that true knowledge and liberation (vijjāvimutti) have a nutriment; they are not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of true knowledge and liberation? "The seven factors of awakening (bojjhaṅga)," it should be said. Bhikkhus, I say that the seven factors of awakening too have a nutriment; they are not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of the seven factors of awakening? "The four establishments of mindfulness (satipaṭṭhāna)," it should be said. Bhikkhus, I say that the four establishments of mindfulness too have a nutriment; they are not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of the four establishments of mindfulness? "The three kinds of good conduct (sucarita)," it should be said. Bhikkhus, I say that the three kinds of good conduct too have a nutriment; they are not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of the three kinds of good conduct? "Restraint of the sense faculties (indriyasaṃvara)," it should be said. Bhikkhus, I say that restraint of the sense faculties too has a nutriment; it is not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of restraint of the sense faculties? "Mindfulness and clear comprehension," it should be said. Bhikkhus, I say that mindfulness and clear comprehension too have a nutriment; they are not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of mindfulness and clear comprehension? "Careful attention (yoniso manasikāra)," it should be said. Bhikkhus, I say that careful attention too has a nutriment; it is not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of careful attention? "Faith (saddhā)," it should be said. Bhikkhus, I say that faith too has a nutriment; it is not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of faith? "Hearing the true Dhamma (saddhammassavana)," it should be said. Bhikkhus, I say that hearing the true Dhamma too has a nutriment; it is not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of hearing the true Dhamma? "Association with good persons (sappurisasaṃseva)," it should be said.
Thus, bhikkhus, association with good persons, when it is full, fills up hearing the true Dhamma; hearing the true Dhamma, when it is full, fills up faith; faith, when it is full, fills up careful attention; careful attention, when it is full, fills up mindfulness and clear comprehension; mindfulness and clear comprehension, when they are full, fill up restraint of the sense faculties; restraint of the sense faculties, when it is full, fills up the three kinds of good conduct; the three kinds of good conduct, when they are full, fill up the four establishments of mindfulness; the four establishments of mindfulness, when they are full, fill up the seven factors of awakening; the seven factors of awakening, when they are full, fill up true knowledge and liberation. Such is the nutriment of this true knowledge and liberation, and such their fulfillment.
Just as, bhikkhus, when the sky rains down in thick droplets upon a mountaintop, when the rain pours streaming down, that water, flowing along the slope, fills the mountain clefts, gullies, and creeks; the mountain clefts, gullies, and creeks, when they are full, fill the small pools; the small pools, when they are full, fill the large pools; the large pools, when they are full, fill the streams; the streams, when they are full, fill the great rivers; the great rivers, when they are full, fill the great ocean, the sea — such is the nutriment of that great ocean, the sea, and such its fulfillment — even so, bhikkhus, association with good persons, when it is full, fills up hearing the true Dhamma; hearing the true Dhamma, when it is full, fills up faith; faith, when it is full, fills up careful attention; careful attention, when it is full, fills up mindfulness and clear comprehension; mindfulness and clear comprehension, when they are full, fill up restraint of the sense faculties; restraint of the sense faculties, when it is full, fills up the three kinds of good conduct; the three kinds of good conduct, when they are full, fill up the four establishments of mindfulness; the four establishments of mindfulness, when they are full, fill up the seven factors of awakening; the seven factors of awakening, when they are full, fill up true knowledge and liberation. Such is the nutriment of this true knowledge and liberation, and such their fulfillment.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.