Craving

1
Craving

• cause of suffering (Second Noble Truth)
• Literally means thirst
• From craving springs grief
• From craving springs fear
• Leads to repeated births (rebirthsponobhavika)
• Craving for sensual pleasures (kamatanha)
• Craving for existence (Bhavatanha)
• Craving for non-existence (vibhavatanha)

2
Craving 2

• Complete separation from, destruction of, craving
• Transcend material pleasures ? greater bliss
• Forsake craving, renunuciation, non-attachment
  ?liberation

3
Kinds of craving

• Three kinds
• Attachment to sensual pleasures (kamatanha)
  grossest form of craving
• Attachment to existence (bhavatabha)
• Attachment to realms of form
• Attachment to non-existence (vibhavatabha)
• Attachment to formless realms (ruparaga
  aruparaga are treated as 2 fetters)
• 2 3 are attachment to sensual pleasures
  connected with belief of eternalism nihilism

4
Craving

• Powerful mental force latent in all
• Chief cause of most ills of life
• Gross or subtle ? repeated births
• Makes one cling to all forms of life
• Grossest forms are attenuated on attainment of
  sakadagami (2nd stage of sainthood)
• Grossest forms are eradicated on attainment of
  anagami (3rd stage of sainthood)
• Subtle forms are eradicated on attainment of
  arahantship

5
Craving Four Noble Truths

• Right understanding of First Noble Truth
  ?eradication of craving
• Second Noble Truth deals with mental attitude of
  ordinary man towards external objects of sense
• Third Noble Truth complete cessation of
  suffering (Nibbana) ultimate goal of Buddhists
  achieved in this life by total eradication of
  craving

6
Consequences of craving

• Grief
• Fear
• Repeated rebirths