Page 111 - Dhamma Practice

dissatisfaction in this phenomenon emerging? This is the way to contemplate how to experience the tastes, without defilements emerging.
In addition to knowing the benefits of the things that we consume, we should also experience without attachment to flavor. We need to know what the flavor is—sour, sweet, savory or salty. By nature, the tongue will know the flavor, because its role is to experience taste. The tongue does not refuse flavor—put in a bitter thing, it would pronounce bitterness. Put in a sweet thing, it would pronounce sweetness. Like or dislike is another matter, but the tongue acts as the experiencer of taste. The key is whether the flavor causes defilements to emerge.
Now, when we say: “Flavor is not permanent”, have we ever observed how it is impermanent? If the flavor is permanent, it would be banal, correct? Just thinking about it, it would feel banal. When we see oily food, just the smell will feel banal. Why? This is because the smell reminds us of the banal taste. Have we ever noticed—even our most favorite flavor—if it stays in our mouth for ten minutes without fading, the taste would become banal. If desserts are permanently sweet, we would not feel good. Observe that desserts or food that we like, once we swallow it, the taste is gone. Then we add more, then we swallow, then we add more. This is to preserve the delicious taste, otherwise it will turn banal. This is impermanence.
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