The Buddha teaches on a sapling, presenting an analysis of dependent origination and the causal links that give rise to suffering.

SN 12.57 A Sapling

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Saṁyojaniyesu, bhikkhave, dhammesu assādānupassino viharato taṇhā pavaḍḍhati. Taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, taruṇo rukkho. Tassa puriso kālena kālaṁ mūlāni palimajjeyya kālena kālaṁ paṁsuṁ dadeyya, kālena kālaṁ udakaṁ dadeyya. Evañhi so, bhikkhave, taruṇo rukkho tadāhāro tadupādāno vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjeyya.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, saṁyojaniyesu dhammesu assādānupassino viharato taṇhā pavaḍḍhati. Taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

Saṁyojaniyesu, bhikkhave, dhammesu ādīnavānupassino viharato taṇhā nirujjhati. Taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, taruṇo rukkho. Atha puriso āgaccheyya kuddālapiṭakaṁ ādāya …pe… nadiyā sīghasotāya pavāheyya. Evañhi so, bhikkhave, taruṇo rukkho ucchinnamūlo assa tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, saṁyojaniyesu dhammesu ādīnavānupassino viharato taṇhā nirujjhati. Taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

“Saṁyojaniyesu, bhikkhave, dhammesu assādānupassino viharato taṇhā pavaḍḍhati.

“There are things that tighten the fetters. When you concentrate on the gratification provided by these things, your craving grows.

Taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ …pe…

Craving is a requirement for grasping. …

evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, taruṇo rukkho.

Suppose there was a sapling.

Tassa puriso kālena kālaṁ mūlāni palimajjeyya kālena kālaṁ paṁsuṁ dadeyya, kālena kālaṁ udakaṁ dadeyya.

And from time to time someone would clear around the roots, supply soil, and water it.

Evañhi so, bhikkhave, taruṇo rukkho tadāhāro tadupādāno vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjeyya.

Fed and fuelled by that, the sapling would grow, increase, and mature.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, saṁyojaniyesu dhammesu assādānupassino viharato taṇhā pavaḍḍhati.

In the same way, there are things that tighten the fetters. When you concentrate on the gratification provided by these things, your craving grows.

Taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ …pe…

Craving is a requirement for grasping. …

evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.

Saṁyojaniyesu, bhikkhave, dhammesu ādīnavānupassino viharato taṇhā nirujjhati.

There are things that tighten the fetters. When you concentrate on the drawbacks of these things, your craving ceases.

Taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho …pe…

When craving ceases, grasping ceases. …

evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, taruṇo rukkho.

Suppose there was a sapling.

Atha puriso āgaccheyya kuddālapiṭakaṁ ādāya …pe…

Then a person comes along with a spade and basket. …

nadiyā sīghasotāya pavāheyya.

They’d cut the sapling apart, cut up the parts, and chop it into splinters. They’d dry the splinters in the wind and sun, burn them with fire, and reduce them to ashes. Then they’d winnow the ashes in a strong wind, or glide them down a swift stream.

Evañhi so, bhikkhave, taruṇo rukkho ucchinnamūlo assa tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo.

In this way the sapling is cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, saṁyojaniyesu dhammesu ādīnavānupassino viharato taṇhā nirujjhati.

In the same way, there are things that tighten the fetters. When you concentrate on the drawbacks of these things, your craving ceases.

Taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho …pe…

When craving ceases, grasping ceases. …

evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī”ti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.”

Sattamaṁ.

Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026