[62] "Bhikkhus, a first point of craving for existence (bhavataṇhā) is not discerned, such that one might say: 'Before this, craving for existence was not; then afterwards it came to be.' Although this is said thus, bhikkhus, nevertheless it is discerned: 'With this as condition, craving for existence comes to be.'
"Bhikkhus, I say that craving for existence has a nutriment (āhāra); I do not say it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of craving for existence? 'Ignorance (avijjā),' it should be said. Ignorance too, bhikkhus, I say has a nutriment; I do not say it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of ignorance? 'The five hindrances (nīvaraṇa),' it should be said. The five hindrances too, bhikkhus, I say have a nutriment; I do not say they are without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of the five hindrances? 'The three kinds of misconduct,' it should be said. The three kinds of misconduct too, bhikkhus, I say have a nutriment; I do not say they are without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of the three kinds of misconduct? 'Non-restraint of the sense faculties,' it should be said. Non-restraint of the sense faculties too, bhikkhus, I say has a nutriment; I do not say it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of non-restraint of the sense faculties? 'Lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension,' it should be said. Lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension too, bhikkhus, I say has a nutriment; I do not say it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension? 'Careless attention,' it should be said. Careless attention too, bhikkhus, I say has a nutriment; I do not say it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of careless attention? 'Lack of faith,' it should be said. Lack of faith too, bhikkhus, I say has a nutriment; I do not say it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of lack of faith? 'Not hearing the true Dhamma,' it should be said. Not hearing the true Dhamma too, bhikkhus, I say has a nutriment; I do not say it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of not hearing the true Dhamma? 'Association with unworthy persons,' it should be said.
"Thus, bhikkhus, association with unworthy persons, when made full, fills up not hearing the true Dhamma; not hearing the true Dhamma, when made full, fills up lack of faith; lack of faith, when made full, fills up careless attention; careless attention, when made full, fills up lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension; lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension, when made full, fills up non-restraint of the sense faculties; non-restraint of the sense faculties, when made full, fills up the three kinds of misconduct; the three kinds of misconduct, when made full, fill up the five hindrances; the five hindrances, when made full, fill up ignorance; ignorance, when made full, fills up craving for existence. Such is the nutriment of this craving for existence, and such its fulfillment.
"Just as, bhikkhus, when rain pours down in thick drops upon a mountaintop, the rain streaming down, that water, flowing along the slope, fills up the mountain clefts, gullies, and creeks; the mountain clefts, gullies, and creeks, when full, fill up the pools; the pools, when full, fill up the lakes; the lakes, when full, fill up the streams; the streams, when full, fill up the great rivers; the great rivers, when full, fill up 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 made full, fills up not hearing the true Dhamma; not hearing the true Dhamma, when made full, fills up lack of faith; lack of faith, when made full, fills up careless attention; careless attention, when made full, fills up lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension; lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension, when made full, fills up non-restraint of the sense faculties; non-restraint of the sense faculties, when made full, fills up the three kinds of misconduct; the three kinds of misconduct, when made full, fill up the five hindrances; the five hindrances, when made full, fill up ignorance; ignorance, when made full, fills up craving for existence. Such is the nutriment of this craving for existence, and such its fulfillment.
"Bhikkhus, I say that true knowledge and liberation (vijjā-vimutti) has a nutriment; I do not say it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of true knowledge and liberation? 'The seven factors of awakening (bojjhaṅga),' it should be said. The seven factors of awakening too, bhikkhus, I say have a nutriment; I do not say they are without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of the seven factors of awakening? 'The four establishments of mindfulness (satipaṭṭhāna),' it should be said. The four establishments of mindfulness too, bhikkhus, I say have a nutriment; I do not say they are without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of the four establishments of mindfulness? 'The three kinds of good conduct,' it should be said. The three kinds of good conduct too, bhikkhus, I say have a nutriment; I do not say they are without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of the three kinds of good conduct? 'Restraint of the sense faculties,' it should be said. Restraint of the sense faculties too, bhikkhus, I say has a nutriment; I do not say it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of restraint of the sense faculties? 'Mindfulness and clear comprehension,' it should be said. Mindfulness and clear comprehension too, bhikkhus, I say has a nutriment; I do not say it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of mindfulness and clear comprehension? 'Careful attention,' it should be said. Careful attention too, bhikkhus, I say has a nutriment; I do not say it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of careful attention? 'Faith,' it should be said. Faith too, bhikkhus, I say has a nutriment; I do not say it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of faith? 'Hearing the true Dhamma,' it should be said. Hearing the true Dhamma too, bhikkhus, I say has a nutriment; I do not say it is without nutriment. And what is the nutriment of hearing the true Dhamma? 'Association with good persons,' it should be said.
"Thus, bhikkhus, association with good persons, when made full, fills up hearing the true Dhamma; hearing the true Dhamma, when made full, fills up faith; faith, when made full, fills up careful attention; careful attention, when made full, fills up mindfulness and clear comprehension; mindfulness and clear comprehension, when made full, fills up restraint of the sense faculties; restraint of the sense faculties, when made full, fills up the three kinds of good conduct; the three kinds of good conduct, when made full, fill up the four establishments of mindfulness; the four establishments of mindfulness, when made full, fill up the seven factors of awakening; the seven factors of awakening, when made full, fill up true knowledge and liberation. Such is the nutriment of this true knowledge and liberation, and such its fulfillment.
"Just as, bhikkhus, when rain pours down in thick drops upon a mountaintop, the rain streaming down, that water, flowing along the slope, fills up the mountain clefts, gullies, and creeks; the mountain clefts, gullies, and creeks, when full, fill up the pools; the pools, when full, fill up the lakes; the lakes, when full, fill up the streams; the streams, when full, fill up the great rivers; the great rivers, when full, fill up 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 made full, fills up hearing the true Dhamma; hearing the true Dhamma, when made full, fills up faith; faith, when made full, fills up careful attention; careful attention, when made full, fills up mindfulness and clear comprehension; mindfulness and clear comprehension, when made full, fills up restraint of the sense faculties; restraint of the sense faculties, when made full, fills up the three kinds of good conduct; the three kinds of good conduct, when made full, fill up the four establishments of mindfulness; the four establishments of mindfulness, when made full, fill up the seven factors of awakening; the seven factors of awakening, when made full, fill up true knowledge and liberation. Such is the nutriment of this true knowledge and liberation, and such its fulfillment."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.