Attachment ☁️ dark

29 discourses
Synonyms: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected Pāli term: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana

In The Path of Dhamma (Dhammapada)

DhammaPada verses 44-59 share on the trainee, nature of the body, what happens to one who dwells with an attached mind, how a sage should wander in village, one who speaks on virtue and wisdom though various similes. The fragrance of virtue is compared to the fragrance of flowers, and the virtue of the noble person is said to spread in all directions.

DhammaPada verses 209–220 explore the danger of attachment to what is pleasing, how sorrow and fear arise from the beloved, fondness, delight, sensual pleasures, and craving, who is dear to the people, who flows upstream, and on the importance of merit.

Dhammapada verses 360–382 depict the ideal bhikkhu as one who restrains the senses, body, speech, and mind, leading to freedom from suffering. Emphasis is placed on mindfulness, inner joy, collectedness, and self-reliance. Through discipline and reflection, the bhikkhu advances towards the peace of Nibbāna, shining like the moon freed from clouds.

Dhammapada verses 383–423 redefine 'Brāhmaṇa' (sage) by inner attainment, not birth or appearance. Through effort, a true sage cuts craving, understands reality, and realizes Nibbāna. Fearless, detached, pure, and restrained, they embody non-violence and patience. Free from defilements and attachments, having overcome suffering and rebirth, the sage achieves the ultimate goal, radiating wisdom and peace.

In As It Was Said (Itivuttaka)

The body is fragile, consciousness is of a fading nature. All substrates of existence are impermanent, dissatisfactory, and subject to change.

In Middle Length Discourses (Majjhima Nikāya)

The Buddha distinguishes peaceful abidings in the here and now from the way of effacement leading upwards to complete quenching. Effacement is shown as the gradual chipping away of defilements through restraint, cultivation of the noble eightfold path, and diligent training, culminating in the complete freedom of Nibbāna.

The Buddha outlines an approach to cross-examine other sects and their doctrines, and how to distinguish between the true Dhamma and the false Dhamma through the comprehension of the four kinds of clinging.

The Buddha explains how even small attachments can be strong fetters if not relinquished, using similes of a quail and an elephant, and contrasts between the poor and wealthy. He describes four types of practitioners based on their response to attachment and mindfulness. The discourse also presents gradual refinement of meditative attainments from the first jhāna to the cessation of perception and feeling.

In The Buddha's Ancient Discourses (Sutta Nipāta)

Verses urging one to rise from negligence, train steadfastly for the state of peace, and not waste the fleeting opportunity of the present moment. The teaching emphasizes the urgency of effort with the imagery of the afflicted pierced by a dart and the King of Death misleading one who remains negligent.

In Linked Discourses (Saṃyutta Nikāya)

King Pasenadi expresses deep sorrow over his grandmother's death. The Buddha teaches him that all beings, without exception, are subject to death and cannot escape it, likening it to a potter's pots that are all bound to break.

The Buddha explains how the tangle of defilements can be disentangled through the practice of virtue, meditation, and wisdom.

The Buddha explains how difficult it is for an uninstructed person to become disenchanted with the mind. A learned disciple of the Noble Ones wisely applies the mind to dependent co-arising.

Consciousness, while persisting, might persist attached to form, feeling, perception, and intentional constructions. When passion for these is abandoned, the support for the establishment of consciousness is completely cut off. That consciousness, being unestablished, does not grow, and by not intentionally constructing, is liberated.

The Buddha teaches the Dhamma for the complete comprehension of all clinging through seeing the dependent co-arising of feeling through the six sense bases.

The Buddha explains to the headman Bhadraka the root cause of suffering through a direct and relatable inquiry. When Bhadraka admits to feeling sorrow when those he cares about are harmed, the Buddha skillfully reveals that such sorrow arises not from the events themselves but from one’s own attachment and desire.

The four kinds of clinging - 1) clinging to sensual pleasures, 2) clinging to views, 3) clinging to rules and observances, and 4) clinging to a doctrine of self - are described in brief. The Noble Eightfold Path is the way for direct knowledge, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these four kinds of clinging.

The four knots of 1) craving, 2) ill will, 3) clinging to rules and observances, and 4) clinging to the idea that 'This is the truth' are described in brief. The Noble Eightfold Path is the way for direct knowledge, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these knots.

The five aggregates that are subject to clinging - 1) form, 2) feeling, 3) perception, 4) intentional constructions, and 5) consciousness - are described in brief. The Noble Eightfold Path is the way for direct knowledge, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these five aggregates that are subject to clinging.

The four kinds of clinging - 1) clinging to sensual pleasures, 2) clinging to views, 3) clinging to rules and observances, and 4) clinging to a doctrine of self - are described in brief. The four establishments of mindfulness should be cultivated for directly knowing, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these bonds.

The four knots of craving, ill will, clinging to rules and observances, and clinging to the idea that 'This is the truth' are described. The four establishments of mindfulness should be cultivated for directly knowing, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these knots.

The five aggregates that are subject to clinging - 1) form, 2) feeling, 3) perception, 4) intentional constructions, and 5) consciousness - are described in brief. The four establishments of mindfulness should be cultivated for directly knowing, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these five aggregates that are subject to clinging.

In Numerical Discourses (Aṅguttara Nikāya)

The Buddha teaches on two hopes that are difficult to abandon, two kinds of people who are rare in the world, two kinds of people who are difficult to satisfy, two causes for the arising of passion, aversion, wrong view, and right view, and two kinds of offenses.

The Buddha describes the eight ways in which a woman binds a man.

The Buddha describes the eight ways in which a man binds a woman.

The Buddha describes eight motivations for giving, including giving out of desire, aversion, and fear.

In Inspired Utterances (Udāna)

The Buddha expresses an inspired utterance contrasting one who has comprehended the nature of reality with one who is with possessions.

The Buddha expresses an inspired utterance to Visākhā on how all under another's control brings suffering.

On seeing the people of Sāvatthi excessively clinging to sensual pleasures, the Buddha expresses an inspired utterance on the bondage that ensues from sensual desire.

On seeing the people of Sāvatthi clinging to sensual pleasures, the Buddha expresses an inspired utterance on harm that comes from sensual desire.

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