The Buddha teaches on desire and greed, applying the analysis of the five aggregates—form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness—to insight and release.

SN 22.25 Desire and Greed

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Yo, bhikkhave, rūpasmiṁ chandarāgo taṁ pajahatha. Evaṁ taṁ rūpaṁ pahīnaṁ bhavissati ucchinnamūlaṁ tālāvatthukataṁ anabhāvaṅkataṁ āyatiṁ anuppādadhammaṁ.

Yo vedanāya chandarāgo taṁ pajahatha. Evaṁ vedanā pahīnā bhavissati ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā. Yo saññāya chandarāgo taṁ pajahatha. Evaṁ saññā pahīnā bhavissati ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā. Yo saṅkhāresu chandarāgo taṁ pajahatha. Evaṁ te saṅkhārā pahīnā bhavissanti ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā. Yo viññāṇasmiṁ chandarāgo taṁ pajahatha. Evaṁ taṁ viññāṇaṁ pahīnaṁ bhavissati ucchinnamūlaṁ tālāvatthukataṁ anabhāvaṅkataṁ āyatiṁ anuppādadhamman”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Yo, bhikkhave, rūpasmiṁ chandarāgo taṁ pajahatha.

“Mendicants, give up desire and greed for form.

Evaṁ taṁ rūpaṁ pahīnaṁ bhavissati ucchinnamūlaṁ tālāvatthukataṁ anabhāvaṅkataṁ āyatiṁ anuppādadhammaṁ.

Thus that form will be given up, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.

Yo vedanāya chandarāgo taṁ pajahatha.

Give up desire and greed for feeling …

Evaṁ vedanā pahīnā bhavissati ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.

Yo saññāya chandarāgo taṁ pajahatha.

perception …

Evaṁ saññā pahīnā bhavissati ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.

Yo saṅkhāresu chandarāgo taṁ pajahatha.

choices …

Evaṁ te saṅkhārā pahīnā bhavissanti ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.

Yo viññāṇasmiṁ chandarāgo taṁ pajahatha.

consciousness.

Evaṁ taṁ viññāṇaṁ pahīnaṁ bhavissati ucchinnamūlaṁ tālāvatthukataṁ anabhāvaṅkataṁ āyatiṁ anuppādadhamman”ti.

Thus that consciousness will be given up, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.”

Catutthaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

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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Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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Greed

Greed

A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment

Also known as: acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness
Pāli: lobha, gedha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026