Craving and Anger Does Not Exist

Monks, there are these four things that are born.

What four?

Craving is born from craving; anger is born from craving; craving is born from anger; and anger is born from anger.

When, distant from sense-desires, distant from unwholesome mental states, he enters and resides in the first Jhāna, which is with thinking and pondering, based in seclusion, filled with excitement and joy, on that occasion craving born from craving does not exist in him, anger born from craving does not exist in him, craving born from anger does not exist in him, and anger born from anger does not exist in him.

When, with the subsiding of thinking and pondering, by gaining inner tranquility and oneness of mind, he enters and resides in the second Jhāna, which is without thinking and pondering, based in concentration, filled with excitement and joy ... the third Jhāna … the fourth Jhāna, on that occasion craving born from craving does not exist in him, anger born from craving does not exist in him, craving born from anger does not exist in him, and anger born from anger does not exist in him.

(Reference: AN 4.200)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how craving and anger are born for each other and how when the mind enters and resides in the Jhānas, craving and anger are significantly decreased.

A Practitioner who enters the Jhānas will still have craving and anger in the mind but, it will be significantly decreased. Therefore, discontentedness is significantly decreased for a Practitioner who has entered into the Jhānas. It is not until the third Stage of Enlightenment that anger/hatred/ill will is completely eliminated from the mind and it is not until a Practitioner is in the fourth Stage of Enlightenment that craving/desire/attachment is fully extinguished.

In order to accomplish the goal of extinguishing all craving/desire/attachment and anger/hatred/ill will, a Practitioner needs to deeply understand and practice the entire Path to Enlightenment - The Eight Fold Path. One aspect of The Path to Enlightenment is to understand how craving and anger arise.

In this Teaching, The Buddha mentions how craving is born from craving; anger is born from craving; craving is born from anger; and anger is born from anger.

Craving is born from craving: If an individual has a certain craving, this can arise additional cravings on top of the original craving.

For example, if a Practitioner has craving/desire/attachment for wealth, this could then arise craving and obsession for increased promotions in one’s career, increased money, lavish lifestyle, and luxury cars, clothing, jewelry, property, etc. These cravings can then motivate unskillful intentions, speech, and actions resulting in significant difficulties in one’s life.

In this way, craving is born from craving.

Anger is born from craving: If an individual has a certain craving, this can arise anger in the mind when one does not acquire the objects of their affection.

For example, if a Practitioner has craving/desire/attachment for wealth, this could then arise anger when increased promotions in one’s career, increased money, lavish lifestyle, and luxury cars, clothing, jewelry, property, etc. are not acquired. Anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, etc. can all arise in the mind based on the initial craving/desire/attachment for wealth. The anger can then motivate unskillful intentions, speech, and actions resulting in significant difficulties in one’s life.

In this way, anger is born from craving.

Craving is born from anger: If an individual has a certain anger that has arisen base on an initial craving, the anger can arise further craving in the mind when one is experiencing the painful feelings of anger, the unEnlightened mind will then arise additional cravings attempting to pursue pleasant feelings to eliminate the painful feelings associated with the anger.

For example, if a Practitioner has craving/desire/attachment for wealth, this could then arise anger when increased promotions in one’s career, increased money, lavish lifestyle, and luxury cars, clothing, jewelry, property, etc. are not acquired. Anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, etc. can all arise in the mind based on the initial craving/desire/attachment for wealth. The individual is uncomfortable with the arisen anger, therefore, a craving/desire/attachment for sex, drugs, alcohol, shopping, material possessions, or other cravings may arise within the mind as it seeks to rid itself of the painful feelings associated with the anger. The unEnlightened mind is “unknowing of true reality” how it is stuck in this vicious cycle constantly longing and yearning with a strong eagerness to permanently hold on to the pleasant feelings when that is impossible. With the unEnlightened mind basing its inner feelings on impermanent conditions, it will never experience lasting satisfaction until one trains the mind to eliminate all cravings/desires/attachments. The new cravings can then motivate unskillful intentions, speech, and actions resulting in significant difficulties in one’s life.

In this way, craving is born from anger.

Anger is born from anger: If an individual has anger, this can arise further anger in the mind when one does not acquire the objects of their affection.

For example, if a Practitioner has anger because they were not able to acquire wealth, this could then arise further anger when increased promotions in one’s career, increased money, lavish lifestyle, and luxury cars, clothing, jewelry, property, etc. are not acquired. Anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, etc. can all arise in the mind based on the initial anger that wealth was not acquired. The new anger can then motivate unskillful intentions, speech, and actions resulting in significant difficulties in one’s life.

In this way, anger is born from anger.