Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön | 2001 | 941,039 words
This page describes “rejecting pleasant tastes” as written by Nagarjuna in his Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra (lit. “the treatise on the great virtue of wisdom”) in the 2nd century. This book, written in five volumes, represents an encyclopedia on Buddhism as well as a commentary on the Pancavimsatisahasrika Prajnaparamita.
Section A.4 - Rejecting pleasant tastes
Why condemn tastes (rasa)? One must reason [and say]: Just by coveting exquisite tastes I will suffer all the sufferings; they will pour molten copper (kvathitāmra) into my mouth, I will swallow balls of burning iron (ādīptāyoguḍa). If I do not consider the nature of foods, feelings of gluttony will be established in me and I will fall into the level of the impure insects (aśucikṛma).
[The śrāmaṇera who loved cream].
[The crown prince who was poisoned by fruit].
The taste for flavors is such that, [to satisfy it], one risks one’s life. For all these reasons, attachment to tastes is condemned.