CH16: Taṇhā (Craving)

At-a-glance: Present Cause • Kilesa-vaṭṭa • C2 pivot

A. Definition & place in DO

• Taṇhā = craving/thirst that arises conditioned by feeling (vedanā) (SN 12.1).

• Sixfold craving (SN 12.2): for forms, sounds, odors, tastes, tangibles, mental-objects (rūpa, sadda, gandha, rasa, phoṭṭhabba, dhamma).

• Placement (Ch02): Present Cause—immediately downstream of vedanā, upstream of upādāna → (kamma)bhava.

• Round (Ch03): Kilesa-vaṭṭa (defilement).

• Function: inclines the mind to grasp, resist, or drift; if unexamined, it feeds clinging and builds becoming.

• Practice note: taṇhā is not the raw tone; it is the lean after tone. Spotting that lean at C2 is the practical key.

B. Mechanism (how taṇhā conditions the next)

• Vedanā → Taṇhā (C2): pleasant → pull (“more”); painful → push (“away”); neutral → fog (“whatever”).

• Taṇhā → Upādāna: leaning hardens into clinging (to sensuality, views, rites-and-rituals, self-doctrine per SN 12.2).

• Upādāna → (Kamma)bhava: clung-to aims drive fresh doing, consolidating becoming that will project future result (jāti → jarāmaraṇa).

• Cessation read (SN 12.1): when taṇhā ceases, upādāna and bhava do not ignite; the downstream dukkha wanes.

C. Practice (micro-drills, 1–3 minutes)

1. Catch the Lean (60–90 sec)
   Right after you label a tone (pleasant/neutral/painful), say: “Is there a lean?” If yes, name it once—“taṇhā”—and relax jaw/chest/hands. Watch the lean lose pressure.

2. Six-Door Name & Nudge (2 min)
   For one minute, let small contacts occur. Each time, state the door and craving: “eye—form—want,” “ear—sound—push,” “mind—idea—fog.” After naming, add one nudge: one slow exhale, soften shoulders, feel both feet.

3. Swap the Fuel (2–3 min)
   Pick a live pull (scroll, snack, retort). Ask: “What wholesome aim could replace this?” (kindness, patience, truthfulness). Breathe once, re-aim the next micro-action to that aim; execute one tiny step (close tab, sip water, pause before speaking).

D. Cross-links

• Ch15 Vedanā (immediate condition; tone vs. lean).

• Ch17 Upādāna (four clingings; what craving solidifies).

• Ch18 (Kamma)bhava (how clung aims become doing and momentum).

• Ch05 Two Truths (taṇhā as Samudaya-sacca).

• Ch06 Three Connections (C2 spotlight between result and defilement).

Sources

SN 12.1; SN 12.2.

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QR Footer (left → right)

• Audio QR-CH16-AUD1 — “Catch the Lean: 90-sec craving drill.” (Alt: “QR to audio: taṇhā recognition practice”)

• Video QR-CH16-VID1 — From feeling to clinging: live C2 demo. (Alt: “QR to video: vedanā→taṇhā→upādāna demo”)

• Slides QR-CH16-PPT1 — Sixfold taṇhā with door cues. (Alt: “QR to slides: craving teaching deck”)

• Prompt QR-CH16-PRM1 — Swap the Fuel checklist. (Alt: “QR to prompt: wholesome re-aim script”)

Next: Ch17 — Upādāna (Clinging).