Craving
Taṇhā Sutta (SN 38:10)
On one occasion Ven. Sāriputta was staying in Magadha near Nāla Village. Then Jambukhādaka the wanderer went to Ven. Sāriputta and, on arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him. After an exchange of friendly greetings & courtesies, he sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to Ven. Sāriputta: “‘Craving, craving,’ it is said, my friend Sāriputta. Which craving (are they referring to)?”
“There are these three cravings: craving for sensuality, craving for becoming, craving for non-becoming. These are the three cravings.”
“But is there a path, is there a practice for the abandoning of these cravings?”
“Yes, there is a path, there is a practice for the abandoning of these cravings.”
“Then what is the path, what is the practice for the abandoning of these cravings?”
“Precisely this noble eightfold path, my friend: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. This is the path, this is the practice for the abandoning of these cravings.”
“It’s an auspicious path, my friend, an auspicious practice for the abandoning of these cravings—enough for the sake of heedfulness.”
