Lzh Mi Bu Pm Np 15The Five Tonics

Discourse on the Five Medicines — An Explanation in the Theravāda Tradition

Background

The Discourse on the Five Medicines (Bhesajja) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, an important component of the Pāli Canon in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka not only prescribes rules of conduct for the community of monks and nuns, but also contains deep teachings on protecting health, self-discipline, and ethical practice.

This background arises from practical problems faced by monks and nuns in the course of practice. The Buddha saw that physical and mental health are necessary foundations for the practice of concentration (samādhi) and wisdom (paññā). Therefore, he established specific guidelines on how to maintain health reasonably, avoiding unreasonable practices of bodily mortification or complete indulgence, both of which could obstruct the path to liberation.

Main Content

The five medicines (bhesajja) in this text are understood as five means for treating illnesses and deficiencies in the process of practice. They are not ordinary material substances, but rules, methods, and principles of disciplined living:

First is moderation in eating. The Buddha advised the renunciant community not to be greedy for food, not to eat too much or too little, but to know what is appropriate. Food is regarded as “medicine” for sustaining the body, not as an object of craving.

Second is abstention from mistaken actions. Monastics should avoid activities that are aimless, disorderly, or forms of entertainment outside the rules that may harm mental concentration.

Third is the practice of sleeping at the right time and waking at the right time, so as not to disturb the body’s natural rhythm.

Fourth is adherence to basic rules of hygiene in order to prevent illnesses from arising.

Fifth is the training of the mind through meditation (bhāvanā), the most fundamental “medicine” for curing defilements and psychological errors.