Consumption in Tipitaka: Learning through Tongue and Death from Tongue

Abstract

This academic article examines the role of the tongue in the context of education within the Buddhist framework, considering it both as a sensory receptor and as a component of the body. The study is based on a review of relevant documents and research, with the findings presented in the form of an academic essay. The results suggest that, according to Buddhist philosophy, the tongue is one of the six sense organs, or "Indriya," and plays a vital role in the process of knowledge acquisition. Known as Jivhāphassa, the tongue serves as a tool for seeking knowledge. It also functions as a sensory organ for tasting, as well as a means for discerning knowledge by separating the senses. Thus, the tongue is a significant mechanism in the process of acquiring knowledge, as outlined in Buddhist teachings. For example, in the Jataka tale of Goghat, there is a story of a cow that, after eating beef, had its own tongue cut off and eventually died. Similarly, in the Ramayana, there is a giant named Jivhā whose tongue, which was a weapon, ultimately led to his death. The Naga, in Buddhist and Hindu mythology, is often depicted with a forked tongue (known as Davijivhā), further emphasizing the tongue’s symbolic role in seeking knowledge. In addition to its role in perception and knowledge, the tongue also serves as a distinguishing tool for taste, such as in the case of a cook who relies on it for their profession. Therefore, this article explores the concept of the tongue as a channel of perception, or Jivhā-viññāṇa in Buddhism. This term refers to the knowledge derived from the tongue, which plays a critical role in mindfulness practice. The "taste-receiving tongue" is used in this context to describe how contact with the tongue leads to the creation of knowledge through sensations, emotions, and feelings.