Saṃyukta Āgama Sutta 372, Part 1

(1) Original Text: Thus have I heard. At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in Śrāvastī, in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. At that time, the World-Honored One addressed the bhikṣus: "There are four kinds of nutriment that sustain and benefit sentient beings, enabling them to abide in the world, to be upheld, and to grow. What are the four? First, coarse physical food. Second, subtle contact nutriment. Third, mental volition nutriment. Fourth, consciousness nutriment." At that time, a bhikṣu named Prakṛti was standing behind the Buddha, fanning him. He addressed the Buddha: "World-Honored One, who consumes this consciousness?" The Buddha told Prakṛti: "I do not say there is one who consumes consciousness. If I had said there is one who consumes consciousness, then your question would have been appropriate. I say that consciousness is nutriment. You should ask thus: 'For what reason is there consciousness nutriment?' Then I would answer: 'It can induce future existence, causing continuity of birth. Because there is existence, there are the six sense bases. The six sense bases are the condition for contact.'"

Explanation: The World-Honored One told the bhikṣus: There are four kinds of nutriment that nourish and benefit sentient beings, enabling sentient beings to be upheld and to abide long in the world. What are the four kinds of nutriment? The first is coarse physical food; the second is subtle contact nutriment; the third is the volition nutriment of mind and mental faculty; the fourth is the discerning nutriment of consciousness. At that time, a bhikṣu named Prakṛti was standing behind the Buddha fanning him. He said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, who takes consciousness as food?" The Buddha told Prakṛti: "I do not say there is one who takes consciousness as food. If I had said there is one who takes consciousness as food, your question would have been appropriate. But I say that consciousness is also a kind of nutriment that benefits sentient beings. You should ask thus: 'For what reason is there consciousness nutriment?' Then I would answer: 'Consciousness nutriment can induce future existence, causing the continuity of birth within the three realms. Because there is existence within the three realms, there are the six sense bases. Conditioned by the six sense bases, contact arises.'"

Question: Why did the Buddha say there is no consumer of consciousness? Or, why did the Buddha say there is no one who takes consciousness as food?

Original Text: Prakṛti asked further: "For whom is contact?" The Buddha told Prakṛti: "I do not say there is a feeler. If I had said there is a feeler, your question 'For whom is contact?' would have been appropriate. You should ask thus: 'For what reason does contact arise?' Then I should answer thus: 'Conditioned by the six sense bases, contact arises. Contact conditions feeling.'" He asked further: "For whom is feeling?" The Buddha told Prakṛti: "I do not say there is an experiencer. If I had said there is an experiencer, you should ask 'For whom is feeling?' You should ask thus: 'For what reason is there feeling?' Then I should answer thus: 'Conditioned by contact, feeling arises. Feeling conditions craving.'"

Explanation: Prakṛti asked again: "For whom is contact?" The Buddha told Prakṛti: "I do not say there is one who contacts. If I had said there is one who contacts, then your question 'For whom is contact?' would have been appropriate. You should ask thus: 'For what reason does contact arise?' Then I should answer: 'Conditioned by the six sense bases, contact arises. Conditioned by contact, feeling arises.'" Prakṛti asked again: "For whom is feeling?" The Buddha told Prakṛti: "I do not say there is one who experiences. If I had said there is one who experiences, then you should ask 'For whom is feeling?' You should ask thus: 'For what reason is there feeling?' Then I would answer: 'Conditioned by contact, feeling arises. Conditioned by feeling, craving arises.'"

Question: Why is there no feeler? Why is there no experiencer? Why is there no craver? Why is there no grasper? Why is there no one who has existence?