Tanha

Pedro’s mother would prepare idlis on alternate Sundays. Pedro hated idlis but his younger brother loved idlis. As a compromise, Pedro would be ready to eat maximum two idlis but his brother wanted to eat ten.

Pedro’s mother wants both her sons to eat the same number of idlis: six each! Surely, both the sons would be unhappy as they were being forced to accept something ranged against their cravings.

 Tanha is a Buddhist concept typically translated as craving, and is of three types: kama-taṇha (craving for sensual pleasures), bhava-taṇha (craving for existence), and vibhava-taṇha (craving for non-existence).

 Tanha arises with or exists together with ‘dukkha’ (dissatisfaction, distress, pain). In the above example, the mother as well as her sons would be unhappy as they could not fully get what at they want.

 But imagine a scenario where everyone adapts to the situation by breaking the chains of personal cravings. They could sit and eat together with none forcing the other to eat. Each could eat maybe lesser than the need and share it with someone who is hungry.

 Tanha is not the first cause nor the only cause of dukkha, but it is the principal one. When we escape the trap of Tanha, we will be liberated of overwhelming cravings and find satisfaction that comes from aligning to the common good.

 Tanha is a trap, don’t let cravings hold you down…

The common good will remove the unhappy frown!

 - Pravin K Sabnis