Deep Commentary

This verse was taught by the Buddha at Jetavana Monastery in connection with King Pasenadi. The story tells that King Pasenadi once had the habit of eating large amounts of richly seasoned food. One day, after an excessive meal, his body and mind became heavy and dull. He went to see the Buddha, pacing back and forth before him in great weariness. He wished only to lie down and sleep, but instead sat down beside the Buddha. Seeing this, the Buddha asked, “Great King, did you not sleep before coming here?” The king replied, “No, Blessed One. I always feel uncomfortable after eating too much.” The Buddha said, “Great King, overeating often leads to fatigue.” Then the Buddha spoke this verse. Wishing to help the king, he also taught: “The wise eat in moderation; body and mind become light, aging is slowed, and life is lived with ease.” The Buddha instructed Prince Uttara to memorize this verse and recite it whenever the king took his meal, so that the king would remember to stop. The prince followed the Buddha’s instruction. After some time, the king began to eat more moderately, lost weight, and felt much better. He continued to visit the Buddha often and made offerings with deep faith. Food and drink sustain life and give the body strength to work and function. But if one does not know how to regulate eating, food itself can become a source of harm. Many suffer because of what they consume. Human beings naturally enjoy eating, and food easily becomes a form of pleasure. It is closely connected with desire and indulgence. In the modern world, food is often abundant, heavily processed, and affected by many chemicals and environmental toxins created by human activity. Even natural foods are no longer always as pure as they once were. Pollution spreads through soil, rivers, oceans, and air. Much of this comes from human greed and carelessness. People create harmful weapons, pollute the atmosphere, damage the environment, and then suffer the consequences in the form of disease and insecurity. Scientists work tirelessly to cure illnesses and preserve life, yet at the same time human greed continues to create new causes of sickness and suffering. This contradiction comes from unrestrained desire. In earlier times, people often lived more simply, ate in moderation, consumed natural foods, walked more, and had fewer anxieties and artificial habits. Their physical and mental lives were lighter. Today, many illnesses are connected with excessive eating, poor diet, lack of movement, and stressful living. Doctors often advise people to eat more plant-based foods, reduce heavy and fatty foods, and exercise regularly. Walking is one of the simplest and most beneficial forms of movement, especially for older people. Yet many people have become accustomed to convenience and avoid even small physical effort. The same is true of eating. Many prefer restaurant food or rich, flavorful dishes without considering the long-term effects. At the moment of enjoying delicious food, few reflect on its consequences. Some even think that life would be wasted without tasting every pleasure. Because of such thinking, they indulge without restraint. Some eat constantly out of habit, storing snacks nearby and eating whenever the mouth feels empty. Such habits easily lead to obesity and many illnesses, especially heart disease and related conditions. People want long life, but they do not want restraint. This is one of the contradictions of human life. Today many people eat much and move little. Because they lack walking, exercise, and physical activity, the body becomes weak and prone to disease. The story of King Pasenadi is a clear example. He ate excessively, did not move enough, and became overweight and sluggish. As a king, he enjoyed rich and luxurious foods, so it was natural that his body became heavy. After eating, he became sleepy wherever he sat. Seeing this, the Buddha advised him to eat less and to have suitable food prepared. Thanks to this, the king reduced his weight and felt healthier. Those who are severely overweight often shorten their lives, and much of this comes from unregulated eating. We should take this as a lesson and follow the Buddha’s advice to moderate our eating for health and longevity. In this verse, the Buddha warns us not to be greedy for food and sleep like a pig that eats and then lies down. A life that knows only eating and sleeping is dull and wasted. If human life is reduced to only that, then the precious opportunity of being born human has been squandered.