Tanha, desires or craving is the third kind of kilesa which causes suffering. There are three kinds of craving already mentioned : Kamatanha, Bhavatanha and Vibhavatanha. All are commonly experienced in everyday life, but they can only be seen when the working of the mind is carefully analyzed. At the root of all ignorance is the ignorance of thing as a natural process of interrelated causes ad effects, which give rise to the perception of self. This leads to a very important and fundamental desire or craving, the desire to be, the desire to survive, to wanting to have. Tanha is simply desired for existence, but existence in order to consume those objects which will produce feelings. Thus it can be said that desire for existence depends on the desire to have, and the desire to have intensifies the desire to exist.
Tracing back along the process of Paticcasamupada, we find that these desires originate from the fundamental ignorance of things as they really are. Instead, worldly people have these two basic wrong views at the root of their consciousness. This gives rise to the three kinds of desires, particularly the desire for existence [ Bhavatanha ] and desire for annihilation [ Vibhavatanha ].
As craving intensifies, a number of situations may result. If the desired object is not obtained at the desired time, the bhava or state of existence, at that time becomes intolerable. Life will seem difficult, resulting in a desire for annihilation of that undesirable situation. At the same time, desire to acquire will once again arise, based on the fear of no longer being able to experience pleasant feeling, and from there, desired to be once more.
A second problem might be not obtained the desired objected at all, a third, obtaining it, but in insufficient quantity, while a fourth might be obtaining it, but desiring something else. The process may take various forms, but the basic pattern is one of ever - increasing craving. This is the nature of human defilement we seen to be embroiled in a constant search for a state that is more fulfilling than what they have.
Tracing back along this process, we find that all worldly people have the two basic wrong views of either eternalism or annihilationism at the root of their consciousness, and these give rise to these three kinds of desires. So it can be said that all craving is naturally based on these two basic views. When desires are thwarted, there is disappointment leading to the whole mass of suffering : sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair.
The BUDDHA'S Core Teachings
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