The perception of repulsiveness in food, monks, when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as their culmination, thus it was said. Why was this said?
With frequent contemplation of the perception of repulsiveness in food, monks, the mind of a monk who dwells frequently therein recoils from the craving for taste... either indifference or repulsion stands.
Just as, monks, a leaf or a piece of meat thrown into the fire recoils, does not spread out.
Similarly, monks, with frequent contemplation of the perception of repulsiveness in food, the mind of a monk who dwells frequently therein recoils from the craving for taste... either indifference or repulsion stands.
If, monks, while a monk dwells frequently therein, contemplating the perception of repulsiveness in food, his mind dwells frequently therein...
Therefore, monks, the mind leans towards craving for taste, and non-repulsion arises; it should be understood by the monk, My perception of repulsiveness in food is undeveloped, there is no distinction for me between before and after, my power of development is unattained. Thus, he is aware there.
However, monks, if a monk frequently dwells with his mind imbued with the perception of repulsiveness in food, the mind withdraws from craving for taste... either equanimity or repulsion arises; it should be understood by the monk, My perception of repulsiveness in food is well-developed, there is a distinction for me between before and after, my power of development is attained. Thus, he is aware there.
The perception of repulsiveness in food, monks, when developed and frequently practiced, is of great fruit and benefit, leading to the deathless, having the deathless as its culmination, thus it has been said in this regard.