Tanha

Pali for “craving,” the force which keeps drawing us back into physical rebirth, “the maker of the tabernacle,” as Buddhist scriptures put it (cf. Dhammapada, 153-154 [“Canto of Old Age,” verses 8-9]), i.e., the psycho-physical part of our human nature. It is listed as the eighth of the twelve Nidanas, that which arises from our having feelings (vedan€) and in its turn generates clinging to existence (upadana). In Sanskrit, it is called TRSNA, literally “thirst.”

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