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Taṇhā

Hunger, Thirst, Desire, Craving

References:

[SN 5.56.11]
The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta In Pāḷi
PTS: F.L. Woodward, trans., The Book of the Kindred Sayings V: The Great Chapter XI: Kindred Sayings about the Truths II: Foundation of the Kingdom of the Norm, pp 356
WP: Bhikkhu Bodhi, trans., The Connected Discourses of the Buddha II: The Great Book 12: Connected Discourses on the Truths 2: Setting in Motion the Wheel of the Dhamma, pp1843
AIT: Setting Rolling the Wheel of Truth, Bhk. Nanamoli, trans.
The Formula of the Revolution of the Wheel of Experience,Venerable Punnaji's translation of the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, the First Discourse
[MN 141]
PTS, The Middle Length Sayings III, #141: Discourse on the Analysis of the Truths (Saccavibha.ngasutta), Horner, trans., pp295
[MN 9]
WP: The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, #9: Right View, Bhikkhu Nanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi, trans, pp134
PTS: Dialogues of the Buddha II: #22: Mahasatipatthana Sutta — Setting-Up of Mindfulness, Rhys Davids, trans, pp337
[MN 38]
Majjhima Nikaya I, Middle Length Sayings or Discourses.
38. Mahatanhasankhaya Sutta (Mahaata.nhaasankhaya), I.256
WP: The Greater Discourse on the Destruction of Craving, 349
PTS: Greater Discourse on the Destruction of Craving, I.311
Mahatanhasankhaya Sutta The Major Discourse on Destruction of Craving (Part 2/2) Mahayamaka Vagga, Mulapannasa, Majjhima Nikaya, Suttanta Pitaka From 'Twenty-five Suttas from Mulapannasa' Burma Pitaka Association (Myanmar Tipitaka Association), 1989


Pāḷi MO Hare Horner Punnaji Bodhi Nanamoli Rhys Davids (Mrs)Rhys Davids Thanissaro Walshe Woodward Warren
taṇhā hunger/thirst craving craving urge, thirst craving craving Craving craving, desires craving craving craving Desire
Kāmacchanda wanting, pleasure-wishing, intent to get sensual pleasures desire for sense pleasures sensual desire covetousness covetousness sensuality sensuality Sensual Desire sensuality hankering
Bhava Living becomings becoming urge for existence, being craving for being becoming becoming becoming becoming becoming attachment
Vibhava Flight, Aversion

 

Pāḷi Text Society
Pāḷi English Dictionary
Edited by T. W. Rhys Davids and William Stede
[EDITED ENTRY]

Taṇhā: [Sk. t.r.sṇāa, besides tar.sa =Av. tarsna thirst, Gr. tarsi/a dryness, Goth. paúrsus, [mo: parched] Ohg. durst, E. drought & thirst; to *ters to be, or to make dry in Gr. te/rsomai, Lat. torreo to roast, Goth. gapaírsan, Ohg. derren...] lit. drought, thirst; fig. craving, hunger for, excitement, the fever of unsatisfied longing...Oppd to peace of mind (upekhā, santi). -- A. Literal meaning...tormented by hunger & thirst...). -- B. In its secondary meaning: taṇhā is a state of mind that leads to rebirth. Plato puts a similar idea into the mouth of Socrates (Phædo 458, 9). Neither the Greek nor the Indian thinker has thought it necessary to explain how this effect is produced. In the Chain of Causation (D II. 34) we are told how Taṇhā arises -- when the sense organs come into contact with the outside world there follow sensation and feeling, & these (if, as elsewhere stated, there is no mastery over them) result in Taṇhā. In the First Proclamation (S V.420 ff.; Vin I.10) it is said that Taṇhā, the source of sorrow, must be rooted out by the way there laid down, that is by the Aryan Path. ...Taṇhā binds a man to the chain of Saṅsara, of being reborn & dying again & again (until Arahantship or Nibbana is attained, Taṇhā destroyed, & the cause alike of sorrow and of future births removed...(see Nibbana).
- 1. Systematizations: The 3 aims of t. kāmaḥ, bhavaḥ, vibhavaḥ, that is craving for sensuous pleasure, for rebirth (anywhere, but especially in heaven), or for no rebirth; cp. Vibhava... -- The source of t. is said to be sixfold as founded on & relating to the 6 ... objects of sense or sensations, viz. sights, sounds, smells, etc.: D II.58...; in threefold aspects (as kāma-Taṇhā, bhavaḥ & vibhavaḥ) with relation to the 6 senses...; 36 kinds: 18 referring to sensations (illusions) of subjective origin..., & 18 to sensations affecting the individual in objective quality...at A II.212;... 2. Import of the term: (a) various characterizations of t.:...; grouped with diṭṭhi (wrong views)... T. fetters the world & causes misery: ...; it is the 4th constituent of Mara's army.... - (b) Taṇhā as the inciting factor of rebirth...; as a link in the chain of interdependent causation (see paṭiccasamuppāda): vedanā-paccayā Taṇhā, Taṇhā-paccayā upādanaṅ Vin I.1, 5; D II.31, 33, 56, etc.; ... (c) To have got rid of t. is Arahantship:...D III.238; S III.8, 107 sq., 190;...S I.16=63, 121...; III.26...;

 


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