A Discourse on Paticcasamuppada
by Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw | 62,614 words
The Paticcasamuppada refers to “The Doctrine of Dependent Origination”. This is the English translation done by U Aye Maung Published by U Min Swe Buddhasasana Nuggaha Organization Rangoon, Burma....
If feeling (vedana) that arises from contact with sense objects is not rightly contemplated, it leads to one of the three kinds of craving viz., craving for sensual pleasure, craving for existence and craving for non existence.
The first kind of craving (kamatanha) is focused on sensual objects and it is most prevalent among the living beings of the sensual world.
The craving for existence (bhavatanha) is bound up with the eternity belief (sassata ditthi). It presupposes the permanence of a living being and the indestructibility of the ego despite the dissolution of the physical body. The belief is not deep rooted among the Buddhists, but non Buddhists hold it so firmly that it is a major impediment to their spiritual liberation. Their craving for existence is evident in their illusion of permanent self and their love of sensual pleasure.
The craving for non existence (vibhavatanha) is born of the annihilation belief (uccheda ditthi). The belief is not found among Buddhists and no one is a true Buddhist if he or she holds the belief. The craving for non existence means the desire for the automatic cessation of the life stream after death as well as the love of pleasure rooted in the materialistic view of life.
Each of these three cravings stems from the failure to realize anicca, dukkha and anatta through the introspection of feelings. So in order to forestall craving and its consequences, namely, rebirth and suffering, the yogi should contemplate every phenomenon, and try to see everything as it really is.