Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Np 30The Five Tonics
Pāli / Sanskrit:Bhesajja
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The Scripture of the Five Tonics (Bhesajja)
Background
The Scripture of the Five Tonics is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, particularly within the Pātimokkha section of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. This is not a scripture belonging to the Sutta Piṭaka, but rather a guide to practice and the management of physical and mental health for bhikkhus and bhikkhunis.
The context in which this scripture arose relates to the rules governing the use of nourishing substances within the Saṅgha. The Buddha permitted monastics to make use of five "tonics" (bhesajja) — that is, nourishing substances with medicinal properties — in order to maintain their health and thereby support their cultivation of the Dharma. This reflects the balance within the Dharma between care for the body and spiritual development.
Main Content
The five tonics (bhesajja) that the Buddha approved for use by monastics in order to maintain their health are as follows:
Ghee (Ghī): A clarified butter fat, providing energy and warmth to the body, particularly beneficial for those suffering from physical weakness.
Honey (Madhu): Regarded as a natural tonic, it nourishes vitality and aids in the recovery of energy following periods of austere practice.
Oil (Taila): Vegetable oils used for massage, care of the skin and body, relief of tension, and support of circulation.
Salt (Lavaṇa): Helps to balance electrolytes, enhances taste, and supports digestion.
Sugar (Khaṇḍa): Provides rapid energy, beneficial for those in need of physical restoration.
These substances are regarded as "medicine" (bhesajja) within the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka — not medicine in the modern sense of treatments for illness, but rather supplementary nutrients that enable the disciples of the Buddha to maintain sufficient health to uphold the disciplined life of the Saṅgha and to concentrate upon spiritual cultivation.
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