Tanhā

~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~

In the Four Noble Truths the Buddha identified craving (tanhā) as the cause of suffering. He revealed how it is only when craving has been abandoned that suffering will cease. It is important to understand that not all kinds of desire are considered to be forms of craving. Craving refers specifically to the desires that arise in the mind in the absence of authentic knowledge of the true nature of our life and the world we live in.

The Buddha spoke of three kinds of craving:

(i) The craving for the pleasure that arises through contact with visible forms, sounds, odours, tastes and physical sensations. The ignorant mind feels a deep sense of lack which it seeks to remedy with sense pleasure. But no sense pleasure can give more than temporary relief. Craving for sense pleasures ties the mind to a coarse, restless and superficial level. Seeking happiness from sense pleasures has been compared to licking honey from a razor blade.

(ii) The craving for being. The ignorant mind perceives a stable, independent self. It craves to protect and enhance that imaginary self. This kind of craving may be seen in the desire to be a particular kind of person, or to be seen as such. It manifests in the desire to stand out, to be special, unique, to live for ever. It is seen in the craving for status, fame and power.

(iii) The craving for non-being. The ignorant mind perceives a stable, independent self. It craves for that self to disappear or be annihilated. This craving can lead to the decision to commit suicide. It appears generally in the craving to escape from or to get rid of anything we dislike.

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"Food for the Heart", a series of Dhamma teachings handwritten weekly is posted on the Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives page with Ajahn's kind permission.

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For other teachings by Ven. Ajahn Jayasāro, please visit the Panyaprateep Foundation website.