Craving is The Basis for Coming and Going Which is The Cause of Discontentedness

Monks, what one intends, and what one desires, and whatever one has an obsession towards:

This becomes a basis for the maintenance of consciousness.

When there is a basis, there is a support for the establishing of consciousness.

When consciousness is established and has come to growth, there is impulse.

When there is impulse, there is coming and going.

When there is coming and going, there is passing away and being reborn.

When there is passing away and being reborn, future birth, aging-and-death, sorrow, grief, pain, displeasure, and despair come to be.

Such is the cause of this whole mass of discontentedness.

If, Monks, one does not intend, and one does not desire, but one still has a obsession towards something, this becomes a basis for the maintenance of consciousness. When there is a basis, there is a support for the establishing of consciousness. When consciousness is established and has come to growth, there is impulse. When there is impulse, there is coming and going.

When there is coming and going, there is passing away and being reborn.

When there is passing away and being reborn, future birth, aging-and-death, sorrow, grief, pain, displeasure, and despair come to be.

Such is the cause of this whole mass of discontentedness.

(Reference: SN 12.38)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how craving/desire/attachment leads to acting impulsively leading the mind to “coming and going”.

“Coming and going” is how the mind is never satisfied or content with being at ease in one spot but instead, is seeking, longing, or yearning with a strong eagerness chasing after the objects of its affection. The unEnlightened mind falsely and mistakenly believes that the objects of its affection, waiting just around the corner, is what will ultimately create lasting satisfaction. But then when the mind acquires the objects of its affection and experiences the pleasant feelings, those pleasant feelings are impermanent and fade away. Then, the mind looks for the next object to pursue and chases after that thinking it will be this next object that will bring what it seeks, lasting satisfaction.

This constant cycle continues one day to the next and one life to the next as the consciousness is unaware that the mind’s craving/desire/attachment has it on a never ending pursuit. It is only when the mind discovers and realizes the wisdom of these Teachings that it can then actively apply effort to learning, reflecting, and practicing these Teachings to fully eliminate craving/desire/attachment which will train the mind to experience lasting satisfaction inwardly.

The mind can then eliminate craving/desire/attachment discovering inner fulfillment and lasting satisfaction as the mind progresses towards the attainment of Enlightenment. Having done so, the mind can be at ease no longer chasing the objects of its affection in this life or future rebirths.