Minor Collection

Sayings of the Dhamma 334–359

24. Craving

dhp334:1 When a man lives heedlessly,

dhp334:2 craving grows in them like a camel’s foot creeper.

dhp334:3 They jump from one thing to the next, like a langur

dhp334:4 greedy for fruit in a forest grove.

dhp335:1 Whoever is beaten by this wretched craving,

dhp335:2 this attachment to the world,

dhp335:3 their sorrow grows,

dhp335:4 like grass in the rain.

dhp336:1 But whoever prevails over this wretched craving,

dhp336:2 so hard to get over in the world,

dhp336:3 their sorrows fall from them,

dhp336:4 like a drop from a lotus-leaf.

dhp337:1 I say this to you, good people,

dhp337:2 all those who have gathered here:

dhp337:3 dig up the root of craving,

dhp337:4 as you’d dig up grass in search of roots.

dhp337:5 Don’t let Satan break you again and again,

dhp337:6 like a stream breaking a reed.

dhp338:1 A tree grows back even when cut down,

dhp338:2 so long as its roots are strong and undamaged;

dhp338:3 suffering springs up again and again,

dhp338:4 so long as the tendency to craving is not pulled out.

dhp339:1 A person of low views

dhp339:2 in whom the thirty-six streams

dhp339:3 that flow to pleasure are mighty,

dhp339:4 is swept away by lustful thoughts.

dhp340:1 The streams flow everywhere;

dhp340:2 a weed springs up and remains.

dhp340:3 Seeing this weed that has been born,

dhp340:4 cut the root with wisdom.

dhp341:1 A personage’s joys

dhp341:2 flow from senses and cravings.

dhp341:3 Seekers of happiness, bent on pleasure,

dhp341:4 continue to age and decay.

dhp342:1 People governed by thirst,

dhp342:2 crawl about like a trapped rabbit.

dhp342:3 Bound and fettered, for a long time

dhp342:4 they return to pain time and again.

dhp343:1 People governed by thirst,

dhp343:2 crawl about like a trapped rabbit.

dhp343:3 That’s why one who longs for dispassion

dhp343:4 should dispel thirst.

dhp344:1 Unsnarled, they set out for the jungle,

dhp344:2 then they run right back to the jungle they left behind.

dhp344:3 Just look at this individual!

dhp344:4 Freed, they run to bondage.

dhp345:1 The attentive say that shackle is not strong

dhp345:2 that’s made of iron, wood, or knots.

dhp345:3 But obsession with jeweled earrings,

dhp345:4 concern for your partners and children:

dhp346:1 this, say the attentive, is a strong shackle

dhp346:2 dragging the indulgent down, hard to escape.

dhp346:3 Having cut this one too they go forth,

dhp346:4 unconcerned, having given up sensual pleasures.

dhp347:1 Besotted by lust they fall into the stream,

dhp347:2 like a spider caught in the web she wove.

dhp347:3 The attentive proceed, having cut this one too,

dhp347:4 unconcerned, having given up all suffering.

dhp348:1 Let go of the past, let go of the future,

dhp348:2 let go of the present, having gone beyond sorrow.

dhp348:3 With your heart freed in every respect,

dhp348:4 you’ll find peace, beyond old age.

dhp349:1 For a personage churned by thoughts,

dhp349:2 very lustful, focusing on beauty,

dhp349:3 their craving grows and grows,

dhp349:4 tying them with a stout bond.

dhp350:1 But one who loves to calm their thoughts,

dhp350:2 developing perception of ugliness, ever mindful,

dhp350:3 will surely eliminate that craving,

dhp350:4 cutting off the bonds of Satan.

dhp351:1 One who is confident, unafraid,

dhp351:2 rid of craving, free of blemish,

dhp351:3 having struck down the arrows flying at the heart,

dhp351:4 this bag of bones is their last.

dhp352:1 Rid of craving, free of grasping,

dhp352:2 expert in the definition of terms,

dhp352:3 knowing the correct

dhp352:4 structure and sequence of syllables,

dhp352:5 they are said to be one who bears their final body,

dhp352:6 one of great wisdom, a great person.

dhp353:1 I am the vanquisher of all, the knower of all,

dhp353:2 unsullied in the midst of all things.

dhp353:3 I’ve given up all, freed in the ending of craving.

dhp353:4 Since I know for myself, whose follower should I be?

dhp354:1 The gift of the teaching surmounts all other gifts;

dhp354:2 the taste of the teaching surmounts all other tastes;

dhp354:3 the joy of the teaching surmounts all other joys;

dhp354:4 the ending of craving surmounts all suffering.

dhp355:1 Riches ruin a simpleton,

dhp355:2 but not a seeker of the far shore.

dhp355:3 From craving for wealth, a simpleton

dhp355:4 ruins themselves and others.

dhp356:1 Weeds are the bane of crops,

dhp356:2 but greed is these folk’s bane.

dhp356:3 That’s why a gift to one rid of greed

dhp356:4 is so very fruitful.

dhp357:1 Weeds are the bane of crops,

dhp357:2 but hate is these folk’s bane.

dhp357:3 That’s why a gift to one rid of hate

dhp357:4 is so very fruitful.

dhp358:1 Weeds are the bane of crops,

dhp358:2 but delusion is these folk’s bane.

dhp358:3 That’s why a gift to one rid of delusion

dhp358:4 is so very fruitful.

dhp359:1 Weeds are the bane of crops,

dhp359:2 but desire is these folk’s bane.

dhp359:3 That’s why a gift to one rid of desire

dhp359:4 is so very fruitful.