The Chapter on Craving

For a person who is heedless, craving grows like a creeping vine. He leaps from one thing to another, like a monkey seeking fruit in the forest.

When this vile craving, which clings to the world, overcomes someone, their sorrows increase like grass that has been well-watered.

But whoever overcomes this vile craving, difficult to cross in the world, sorrows fall away from them, like water drops from a lotus leaf.

I tell you this, for your benefit, all who are gathered here: Dig up the root of craving, like one seeking the fragrant root of a reed.

Do not let Māra break you again and again, like a reed in a stream.

Just as a tree, though cut down, grows again if its root is undamaged, so too, if the underlying tendency to craving is not removed, this suffering arises again and again.

For those with thirty-six streams, flowing towards pleasant sights, thoughts rooted in passion carry them away.

Streams flow everywhere, and creepers grow and stand. Seeing this creeper that has arisen, cut its root with wisdom.

Streams are sticky, and pleasures bring delight to beings.

Those who are attached to pleasure, seeking happiness, are indeed caught in birth and aging. People, led by craving, wander about like a snared rabbit.

Bound by fetters and attachments, they suffer repeatedly for a long time.

Therefore, dispel craving, desiring dispassion for oneself.

A disciple who is free from craving, devoted to the forest, yet runs back to the forest, see that person: freed, yet running back to bondage.

The wise do not call that a strong bond, which is made of iron, wood, or rope. But the longing for jewels, children, and wives, the wise call a strong bond, dragging, loose, hard to escape.

Cutting even this, they wander, unattached, having abandoned sensual pleasures.

Those who are attached to passion follow the stream, like a spider following its self-made web.

Cutting even this, the wise go forth, unattached, having abandoned all suffering. Release the past, release the future, release the present, crossing over to the other shore of existence.

With a mind released everywhere, you will not return to birth and aging. For one who is agitated by thoughts, with intense passion, seeing beauty, craving increases more.

This indeed makes a strong bond.

But one who delights in calming thoughts, always mindful, contemplating the unattractive, this one will indeed make an end, cutting Māra's bond.

Having reached the end, fearless, free from craving, without blemish.

He has cut off the arrows of existence, this is his last body.

Free from craving, without attachment, skilled in the language of expression; he knows the arrangement of letters and their sequence.

He is called the one with the last body, the great wise one, the great person.

The Story of Upaka the Ascetic

I am the conqueror of all, the knower of all, unstained among all things; having abandoned all, freed by the destruction of craving, by my own direct knowing, whom should I point to?

The Story of Sakka's Question

The gift of the Dhamma surpasses all gifts, the taste of the Dhamma surpasses all tastes; the delight in the Dhamma surpasses all delights, the destruction of craving conquers all suffering.

The Story of the Childless Wealthy Man

Wealth destroys the foolish, but not those who seek the beyond; the foolish, through craving for wealth, destroys only themselves.

The Story of Aṅkura

Weeds are the bane of fields, greed is the bane of this populace; therefore, what is given to those free from greed bears great fruit.

Weeds are the bane of fields, hatred is the bane of this populace; therefore, what is given to those free from hatred bears great fruit.

Weeds are the bane of fields, delusion is the bane of this populace; therefore, what is given to those free from delusion bears great fruit.

Weeds are the bane of fields, desire is the bane of this populace; therefore, what is given to those free from desire bears great fruit.