The Buddha teaches that desire and greed for the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind is a corruption of the mind that must be abandoned so the mind inclines to renunciation and becomes fit for realizing anything attainable by insight.

SN 27.1 The Eye

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Yo, bhikkhave, cakkhusmiṁ chandarāgo, cittasseso upakkileso. Yo sotasmiṁ chandarāgo, cittasseso upakkileso. Yo ghānasmiṁ chandarāgo, cittasseso upakkileso. Yo jivhāya chandarāgo, cittasseso upakkileso. Yo kāyasmiṁ chandarāgo, cittasseso upakkileso. Yo manasmiṁ chandarāgo, cittasseso upakkileso. Yato kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno imesu chasu ṭhānesu cetaso upakkileso pahīno hoti, nekkhammaninnañcassa cittaṁ hoti. Nekkhammaparibhāvitaṁ cittaṁ kammaniyaṁ khāyati, abhiññā sacchikaraṇīyesu dhammesū”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Yo, bhikkhave, cakkhusmiṁ chandarāgo, cittasseso upakkileso.

“Mendicants, desire and greed for the eye,

Yo sotasmiṁ chandarāgo, cittasseso upakkileso.

ear,

Yo ghānasmiṁ chandarāgo, cittasseso upakkileso.

nose,

Yo jivhāya chandarāgo, cittasseso upakkileso.

tongue,

Yo kāyasmiṁ chandarāgo, cittasseso upakkileso.

body,

Yo manasmiṁ chandarāgo, cittasseso upakkileso.

or mind is a corruption of the mind.

Yato kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno imesu chasu ṭhānesu cetaso upakkileso pahīno hoti, nekkhammaninnañcassa cittaṁ hoti.

When a mendicant has given up mental corruption in these six cases, their mind inclines to renunciation.

Nekkhammaparibhāvitaṁ cittaṁ kammaniyaṁ khāyati, abhiññā sacchikaraṇīyesu dhammesū”ti.

A mind imbued with renunciation is said to be fit for work regarding anything that can be realized by insight.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

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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Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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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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Insight

Insight

Insight is deep, intuitive realization that transforms understanding and guides practice.

Also known as: having insight, with understanding, right knowledge
Pāli: ñāṇa, sammāñāṇa
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Last updated on July 27, 2026