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← Saṃyutta Nikāya

A Question About Craving

SN 38.10 · Taṇhāpañhāsutta

A delicate fallen leaf resting in the last light of dusk.

“Reverend Sāriputta, they speak of this thing called ‘craving’. What is craving?”

“Reverend, there are these three cravings. Craving for sensual pleasures, craving for continued existence, and craving for nonexistence. These are the three cravings.”

“But, reverend, is there a path and a practice for completely understanding these cravings?”

“There is.” …

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Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.