9. The Chapter about Craving (PDHP137-156)

Patna Dhammapada

9. The Chapter about Craving

For a human who lives life heedlessly craving increases like a clinging creeper,

he rushes from one place to another like a monkey seeking fruit in the forest.

That one who is overcome by these low cravings in the world, which are difficult to get past,

for him griefs increase like grass that has been rained upon.

Whoever overcomes this low craving in the world, which is difficult to get past,

griefs roll from him like a drop of water on a lotus.

This I say to you: “Good luck to as many as have assembled here”,

dig up the root of craving, like one seeking the root digs up grass,

for one who has cut off the root of craving there are no griefs, how is there fear?

A man with craving as companion has a long time in births-and-deaths,

in this existence or another existence, here and there, again and again.

Having understood the danger, that craving is the origination of suffering,

free from craving, without attachment, the monastic should wander mindfully.

That bondage is not so strong say the wise, that is made of iron or wood or reeds,

impassioned and excited they seek out jewels and earrings and children and wives—

that bondage is strong say the wise, dragging down, subtle, hard to get free from,

having cut this down the good go peacefully seeking nothing, abandoning all suffering.

Not through a rain of coins is satisfaction found for sense desires,

the wise one knowing: “Sense pleasures have little joy, much suffering,”

does not find delight even in heavenly pleasures.

The disciple of the Perfect Sambuddha delights in craving’s destruction.

Without craving, without attachment, skilled in words and their explanation,

knowing how syllables are arranged, which come before and which after,

the one in his final body is said to be one of great wisdom.

There are flowing streams of affection and mental happinesses for a person,

pleasure-dependent they seek happiness, those people undergo birth and old age.

People surrounded by craving crawl round like a hare in a trap,

they are attached and clinging to fetters, they come back again and again to the womb for a long time.

Be free of the past, be free of the future, be free of the present, after crossing over all existence,

with mind liberated in every way, you will not return to birth and old age.

The one who is free from desires, who is free in the forest, though free from the forest, runs back to the forest,

come here and look at that person, though free, he runs back to bondage.

Fields are ruined by grassy weeds, these people are ruined by passion,

therefore there is great fruit for that given to those without passion.

Fields are ruined by grassy weeds, these people are ruined by hatred,

therefore there is great fruit for that given to those without hatred.

Fields are ruined by grassy weeds, these people are ruined by delusion,

therefore there is great fruit for that given to those without delusion.

The delightful wilderness wherein the people do not delight,

those without passion delight therein, but not those who seek sense pleasures.

Just as when the root remains firm and undamaged though the tree was cut down, it springs up again,

so when the tendency to craving is not rooted out this suffering appears again and again.

The Chapter about Craving