ITI 58  Taṇhā sutta - Craving

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:

“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, taṇhā. Katamā tisso? Kāmataṇhā, bhavataṇhā, vibhavataṇhā— imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso taṇhā”ti.

“Bhikkhus, there are these three kinds of craving. What three? Craving for sensual pleasures, |craving for becoming::craving for continued existence, desire for a stable identity, attachment to a future self, attainment, or experience [bhavataṇhā]|, and |craving for non-becoming::A craving to end suffering through erasure of current experience or identity, e.g. “This self is unbearable; I want out.” [vibhavataṇhā]|. These, bhikkhus, are the three kinds of craving.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:

“Taṇhāyogena saṁyuttā,
rattacittā bhavābhave;
Te yogayuttā mārassa,
ayogakkhemino janā;
Sattā gacchanti saṁsāraṁ,
jātīmaraṇagāmino.

“Fettered by the bond of craving,
with minds inflamed by lust for becoming and non-becoming;
Under the influence of |Māra::the ruler of the sensual realm, often depicted as a tempter who tries to obstruct beings from the path to liberation [māra]|'s snare,
these people find no security from bondage;
Sentient beings continue in |cyclic existence::wandering on, moving on continuously, passing from one state of existence to another, stream of existence [saṃsāra]|,
leading to birth and death.

Ye ca taṇhaṁ pahantvāna,
vītataṇhā bhavābhave;
Te ve pāraṅgatā loke,
ye pattā āsavakkhayan”ti.

But those who have given up craving,
free from desire for repeated existence;
They in this world have truly crossed over,
with the |wearing away of the taints::gradual exhaustion and elimination of the mental defilements or deep-seated afflictions such as sensual desire, craving for existence, views, and ignorance [āsava + khaya]|.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.