Lzh Mu Bi Vb Np 19The Five Tonics

SUTTA ON THE FIVE MEDICINES (BHESAJJA)

Background

This text belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon and reflects the practical regulations that the Buddha established for the Saṅgha regarding medicine and health care. In the time of early Buddhism, the Saṅgha was a community of ascetic monastics, but the purpose was not to destroy the body; it was to discipline the mind. Therefore, the Buddha allowed the use of lawful medicines (bhesajja) in order to maintain health and continue practice.

The text "The Five Medicines" is found in the Mukhattharavagga, the rules concerning various matters, of the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, a collection of rules for women who have gone forth. It expresses the practical character of the Buddha-Dharma, a balance between excessive austerity and indulgent laxity.

Main Content

The text defines five kinds of medicine accepted by the Buddha for use in the monastic community: ghee, oil (taila), honey (madhu), sugar or molasses (phāṇita), and certain roots, stems, fruits, or leaves with medicinal function (mūla, khandha, phala medicines).

These medicines may be used to cure present illness or prevent disease, helping monastics maintain bodily strength. However, the text also clearly forbids other things such as alcohol, foods regarded as luxurious delicacies, or fragrances used outside medical purposes.

The important point is that these medicines are to be used only for curing illness and maintaining the minimum health needed for practice, not for enjoyment or self-indulgence. The ultimate aim remains diligence in the Noble Life (Brahmacariya), not the enticement of the senses.

Practical Meaning

The text "The Five Medicines" contains a deep lesson about balance in Buddhist practice. It teaches that the body is a necessary instrument for practice and should be cared for properly. Not everything connected with the world is prohibited; what is prohibited is craving, exploitation, or the pursuit of pleasure.