Phagguna Sutta

Tipitaka &gt;&gt; Sutta Pitaka &gt;&gt; Samyutta Nikaya &gt;&gt; Nidana-Vagga &gt;&gt; Nidana-samyutta &gt;&gt; 12.12: Phagguna Sutta - To Phagguna

(To Phagguna)
Translated from the Pali by Nyanaponika Thera "There are, O monks, four nutriments for the sustenance of beings born, and for the support of beings seeking birth. What are the four? Edible food, coarse and fine; secondly, sense-impression; thirdly, volitional thought; fourthly, consciousness."

After these words, the Venerable Moliya-Phagguna addressed the Exalted One as follows:

"Who, O Lord, consumes the nutriment consciousness?"

"The question is not correct," said the Exalted One. "I do not say that 'he consumes'. If I had said so, then the question 'Who consumes?' would be appropriate. But since I did not speak thus, the correct way to ask the question will be: 'For what is the nutriment consciousness (the condition)?'