At Sāvatthi.

"Bhikkhus, when one delights in and craves things that are the basis for fetters, there is a descent of consciousness.

With consciousness as condition, name-and-form comes to be; with name-and-form as condition, contact comes to be; with contact as condition, feeling comes to be; with feeling as condition, craving comes to be; with craving as condition, clinging comes to be; from clinging as condition, there is becoming; from becoming, there is birth; from birth, there arises aging and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair. Such is the origin of this whole mass of suffering.

Suppose, bhikkhus, there is a great tree. As long as its roots remain, even if the trunk is cut down, it will continue to grow.

Similarly, when one delights in and craves things that are the basis for fetters, there is a descent of consciousness, which leads to the continuation of the cycle of suffering.

However, bhikkhus, when one does not delight in and does not crave things that are the basis for fetters, there is no descent of consciousness.

When there is no descent of consciousness, there is no name-and-form; with the cessation of name-and-form, contact ceases; with the cessation of contact, feeling ceases; with the cessation of feeling, craving ceases; with the cessation of craving, clinging ceases; with the cessation of clinging, becoming ceases; with the cessation of becoming, birth ceases; with the cessation of birth, aging and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair cease. Such is the cessation of this whole mass of suffering.

Suppose, bhikkhus, there is a great tree. If a man were to come with a spade and basket and dig up its roots, causing the roots to be cut and withered, that tree would not grow anymore. Similarly, when one does not delight in and crave things that are the basis for fetters, there is no descent of consciousness, which leads to the cessation of the cycle of suffering."

This is a teaching that is pointing to how one breaks through seeing the second and third noble truths through practice. A practitioner dwelling with mindfulness and full awareness would be able to verify the second and third noble truths through seeing the links of dependent origination arise and cease. Teachings on what is dependent origination and more can be found in the section Shining the Light of Wisdom ↗️ from “In the Buddha’s Words” by Bhikkhu Bodhi

This is a gradual process that happens as one is practicing per the gradual training guidelines. The practice areas to be sequentially practiced in similar to formation of a new habit to consistently build the habit and see it transform from being effortful, to becoming easy, to then becoming second nature are as follows:

One can take a good 30-60 days of practice in a particular area to strengthen it. For example: if you see that you can only meditate for 5 minutes a day, or are seeing distractions in your meditations, it’s probably a good idea to check the training guidelines in ethical conduct, sense restraint and moderation in eating, as practicing in these will naturally help your meditation practice.

Practice Area

Training in Ethical conduct - not shared as a rule or commandment, rather as a guideline that one can verify by implementing and observing for the condition of the mind.

Related Teachings

Practice Area

A cultivated practice of ethical conduct forms the basis of all the other practice areas.

Related Teachings

Practice Area

Application of sense restraint - Avoid activities and engagements that lead to excitement. Or on recognition, disengage.

Related Teachings

Practice Area

Moderation in eating - Eating for health, rationally, in moderation. Not for delight, not for bulking up, not for pleasant and agreeable feelings

Related Teachings

  • Monastics practice eating before the noon (one of the eight precepts). This isn’t necessary, however, eating within an interval can likely help.

Related Teachings

  • A bucket of rice: King Pasenadi uses a verse given by the Buddha when eating to aid his mindfulness. One can similarly create a personalized reminder.

Practice Area

Training in wakefulness- Purifying the mind of obstacles through a practice of walking and sitting meditation in the morning and evening. Sleep in lion’s posture after noting the idea of rising

Related Teachings

Practice Area

Training in Mindfulness and Full Awareness - Being fully aware when walking, standing, bending, sitting, stretching, lying down, when falling asleep, waking up, speaking, keeping silent. Across all activities.

Related Teachings

Practice Area

Training in seclusion Abandoning hindrances - Staying in seclusion, one trains in abandoning of the five hindrances: sensual desire, ill-will, doubt, complacency (dullness), mental agitation (restlessness and remorse)

Practice Area

Abiding in jhānas - Abiding in the four jhānas, progressively arising of the seven awakening factors.

Related Teachings