The Buddha teaches Venerable Rādha to give up desire and greed for whatever is of a nature to cease, applying the formula to form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.

SN 23.34 Liable to Cease

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Āyasmā rādho bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṁ desetu, yamahaṁ bhagavato dhammaṁ sutvā eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyan”ti.

“Yo kho, rādha, nirodhadhammo; tatra te chando pahātabbo, rāgo pahātabbo, chandarāgo pahātabbo. Ko ca, rādha, nirodhadhammo? Rūpaṁ kho, rādha, nirodhadhammo; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

vedanā nirodhadhammo; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

saññā nirodhadhammo; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

saṅkhārā nirodhadhammo; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

viññāṇaṁ nirodhadhammo; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe… yo kho, rādha, nirodhadhammo; tatra te chando pahātabbo, rāgo pahātabbo, chandarāgo pahātabbo”ti.

Āyācanavaggo tatiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Māro ca māradhammo ca,
Aniccena apare duve;
Dukkhena ca duve vuttā,
Anattena tatheva ca;
Khayavayasamudayaṁ,
Nirodhadhammena dvādasāti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Āyasmā rādho bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Venerable Rādha said to the Buddha:

“sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṁ desetu, yamahaṁ bhagavato dhammaṁ sutvā eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyan”ti.

“Sir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.”

“Yo kho, rādha, nirodhadhammo; tatra te chando pahātabbo, rāgo pahātabbo, chandarāgo pahātabbo.

“Rādha, you should give up any desire, any greed, any desire and greed for whatever is of a nature to cease.

Ko ca, rādha, nirodhadhammo?

And what is of a nature to cease?

Rūpaṁ kho, rādha, nirodhadhammo; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

Form is of a nature to cease. You should give up any desire, any greed, any desire and greed for it.

vedanā nirodhadhammo; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

Feeling …

saññā nirodhadhammo; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

Perception …

saṅkhārā nirodhadhammo; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

Choices …

viññāṇaṁ nirodhadhammo; tatra te chando pahātabbo …pe…

Consciousness is of a nature to cease. You should give up any desire, any greed, any desire and greed for it.

yo kho, rādha, nirodhadhammo; tatra te chando pahātabbo, rāgo pahātabbo, chandarāgo pahātabbo”ti.

You should give up any desire, any greed, any desire and greed for whatever is of a nature to cease.”

Āyācanavaggo tatiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Māro ca māradhammo ca,

Aniccena apare duve;

Dukkhena ca duve vuttā,

Anattena tatheva ca;

Khayavayasamudayaṁ,

Nirodhadhammena dvādasāti.

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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Ill will

Ill will

A mental quality of actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, manifesting as deliberate thoughts or intentions that oppose kindness and compassion; it fuels conflict and obstructs goodwill.

Also known as: actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, thought of malevolence towards another, hostile reflections towards another
Pāli: byāpāda
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Last updated on July 27, 2026