DiscoverSNSN 35–44SN 35SN 35.171–173

The Buddha presents a repeated teaching on the six internal and external sense bases regarding desire, etc. for the suffering interior in this grouped discourse.

PTS 4.149

SN 35.171–173 Desire, Etc. for the Suffering Interior

“Yaṁ, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ, tatra vo chando pahātabbo, rāgo pahātabbo, chandarāgo pahātabbo. Kiñca, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ?

Cakkhu, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ; tatra vo chando pahātabbo, rāgo pahātabbo, chandarāgo pahātabbo …pe… jivhā dukkhā …pe… mano dukkho; tatra vo chando pahātabbo, rāgo pahātabbo, chandarāgo pahātabbo. Yaṁ, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ tatra vo chando pahātabbo, rāgo pahātabbo, chandarāgo pahātabbo”ti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Yaṁ, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ, tatra vo chando pahātabbo, rāgo pahātabbo, chandarāgo pahātabbo.

“Mendicants, you should give up desire … greed … desire and greed for what is suffering.

Kiñca, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ?

And what is suffering?

Cakkhu, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ; tatra vo chando pahātabbo, rāgo pahātabbo, chandarāgo pahātabbo …pe…

The eye, ear, nose,

jivhā dukkhā …pe…

tongue, body,

mano dukkho; tatra vo chando pahātabbo, rāgo pahātabbo, chandarāgo pahātabbo.

and mind are suffering …”

Yaṁ, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ tatra vo chando pahātabbo, rāgo pahātabbo, chandarāgo pahātabbo”ti.

Topics & Qualities:

Craving

Craving

☁️ dark quality

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

topic
💠 neutral quality

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

☁️ dark quality

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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Suffering

Suffering

☁️ dark quality

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 September 10, 2026

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