Category: Buddha’s Teaching

Who follow craving are assailed,
they tremble as the hare ensnared,
so let a bhikkhu craving quell
whose aim is passionlessness

Explanation: Surrounded by craving the masses tremble like a hare caught in a trap. Therefore, a monk desiring to attain detachment – Nibbana – should shun craving. Continue reading “Verse 343. Nibbana By Shunning Craving”

Who follow craving are assailed,
they tremble as the hare ensnared,
held fast by fetter and by bonds
so long they come to dukkha again.

Explanation: Surrounded by craving the masses tremble like a hare caught in a trap. Shackled by ten fetter and seven sangas, men and women suffer again and again over a long period of time. Continue reading “Verse 342. The Bonds That Entrap Men”

To beings there are pleasures streaming
sticky with desire,
steeped in comfort, happiness seeking,
such ones do come to birth, decay.

Explanation: Craving arises in people like flowing streams. These flow towards pleasure and sensual satisfaction. Such people who are bent on pleasure will experience repeated cycles of birth and decay. Continue reading “Verse 341. Bliss Does Not Come Through Craving”

Everywhere these streams are swirling,
up-bursting creepers rooted firm.
Seeing the craving-creeper there
with wisdom cut its root!

Explanation: The streams of craving flow towards objects everywhere. As a result, a creeper springs up and flourishes. The wise, when they see this creeper, should cut its root with wisdom. Continue reading “Verse 340. The Creeper of Craving”

For whom the six and thirty streams
so forceful flow to seeming sweet
floods of thought that spring from lust
sweep off such wrong viewholder.

Explanation: If in a person the thirty-six streams flow strongly towards pleasurable thoughts, that person of depraved views will be carried away on those current of craving. Continue reading “Verse 339. Caught In The Currents Of Craving”

As tree though felled shoots up again
it its roots are safe and firm
so this dukkha grows again
while latent craving’s unremoved.

Explanation: Even when a tree has been cut down, it will grow up again if its roots are strong and unharmed. Similarly, when traces of craving remain, the suffering is likely to arise again and again. Continue reading “Verse 338. Craving Uneradicated Brings Suffering Over and Over”

Prosperity to you, I say,
to all assembled here!
When needing grass’s fragrant root
so craving extirpate.
Don’t let Mara break you again
and again as a torrent a reed!

Explanation: All those here assembled, may you all be well. I will advise you towards your well-being. The person who is keen to get sweet-smelling usira roots must first dig up the birana grass roots. In the same way, dig up the roots of craving. If you did that, Mara – death – will not torture you over and over like a flood crushing reed. Continue reading “Verse 337. Uprooting Craving”

But whoever in the world
routs wretched craving hard to quell,
from such a one do sorrows fall
like water drops from lotus leaf.

Explanation: Craving is a lowly urge. It is difficult to escape craving. But, in this world, if someone were to conquer craving, sorrow will slip off from him like water off a lotus leaf. Continue reading “Verse 336. Escaping Craving”

Whomsoever in this world
this wretched clinging craving routs
for such a one do sorrows grow
as grass well-soaked with rain.

Explanation: If some one is overcome by craving which is described as lowly and poisonous, his sorrows grow as swiftly and profusely as birana grass, after being exposed to repeated rains. Continue reading “Verse 335. How Craving Increases”

As creeping ivy craving grows
in one living carelessly.
Like this, one leaps from life to life
as ape in the forest seeking fruit.

Explanation: Man’s craving grows like the creeper maluva. At the end, the creeper destroys the tree. Like the monkey that is not happy with the fruit in the tree, the man of craving keeps on jumping from one existence to another. Continue reading “Verse 334. The Increase Of Craving”