Craving is the Fuel of Rebirth

I declare, Vaccha, rebirth for one with fuel, not for one without fuel.

Just as a fire burns with fuel, but not without fuel,

So, Vaccha, I declare rebirth for one with fuel, not for one without fuel.

‘Master Gotama, when a flame is flung by the wind and goes some distance, what does Master Gotama declare to be its fuel on that occasion?’

When Vaccha, a flame is flung by the wind and goes some distance, I declare that it is fueled by the wind.

For on that occasion the wind is its fuel.

‘And, Master Gotama, when a being has laid down this body but has not yet been reborn in another body, what does Master Gotama declare to be its fuel on that occasion?’

When, Vaccha, a being has laid down this body but has not yet been reborn in another body, I declare that it is fueled by craving.

For on that occasion craving is its fuel.

(Reference: SN 44.9)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how craving/desire/attachment is the fuel that causes rebirth into a new existence.

Not only is craving/desire/attachment the cause of all discontentedness in the mind but, it is also the fuel that causes rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth.

Through attaining Enlightenment, a being is solving the problem of discontentedness in the mind and at the same time, solving all future problems where they will no longer experience rebirth into a next existence in The Cycle of Rebirth.

While in this life the unEnlightened mind experiences significant challenges through discontentedness of mind, the true challenge all beings are experiencing is that they continue to exist in The Cycle of Rebirth.

With ignorance (unknowing of true reality) as condition, continued existence is experienced. The constant and continuous cycle of beings roaming and wandering with a mind polluted by craving creates the conditions for continuous rebirth.

Eliminating craving eliminates discontentedness and eliminates rebirth. A being who attains Enlightenment will no longer experience any sorrow, grief, pain, displeasure, and despair or existence in a new life. Therefore, Enlightenment is permanent. An Enlightened being will no longer experience any discontentedness or rebirth. All sickness, aging, and death has been eliminated. The Buddha referred to this as “the deathless”.

Never again will an Enlightened being experience death because they will never again experience birth. Through the elimination of birth, comes the permanent elimination of all discontentedness, sickness, aging, and death.

How do I verify that by eliminating cravings/desires/attachments, this will eliminate rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth? How do I verify that cravings/desires/attachments are the fuel that causes rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth?

Just like with all The Teachings of The Buddha, a Student needs to learn, reflect, and practice to independently verify all The Teachings to acquire wisdom which will result in experiencing the Enlightened mind.

There is never a time when a Student should “believe” these Teachings or a Teacher. Instead, through determined, dedicated, and diligent learning, reflecting, and practicing, a Practitioner will come to understand The Teachings that lead to the complete liberation of mind - Enlightenment.

The Enlightened mind will be peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy, no longer experiencing any discontent feelings such as sadness, anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fears, boredom, loneliness, shyness, jealousy, resentment, stress, anxiety, etc.

The following provides details of how a Student would verify that “craving is the fuel that causes rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth”.

Keep in mind, a Teacher’s role is not to prove or convince their Students that this is the truth but instead, a Student will need to do the work to learn, reflect, and practice to verify the truth for themselves with the guidance of a Teacher by a Student choosing to seek guidance with a Teacher.

A Student needs to do the work to independently acquire the wisdom that craving/desire/attachment is the fuel that causes rebirth with guidance from a Teacher and through eliminating craving/desire/attachment, this will eliminate the causes and conditions that leads to rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth. It is through The Teachings of The Buddha that will guide you to understand The Teachings that are needed to acquire this wisdom but then, through one’s own reflections and direct experience, a Student will then gain the wisdom needed to see the truth for themselves.

1.) Dependent Origination: The first Teaching to understand and independently verify is “Dependent Origination”. You will find this in the book titled “The First Stage of Enlightenment” (Volume 5 - Chapter 14) in The Words of The Buddha book series.

https://www.buddhadailywisdom.com/freebuddhabooks

Learn this important Teaching and independently verify that it is true based on your own direct experience while seeking guidance from a Teacher. Even to progress to the first Stage of Enlightenment, a Student would need to learn and understand this important Teaching. Without understanding this important Teaching, a Practitioner would be unable to attain the first Stage of Enlightenment or Enlightenment.

Dependent Origination is the “highest law of nature” and the most important Teaching of The Buddha on The Path to Enlightenment. A beginning Practitioner will not typically readily understand this Teaching but instead, will need to first learn the foundational Teachings shared by The Buddha to build up to understanding Dependent Origination.

To pursue Enlightenment, you must learn and implement The Teachings of:

A.) The Three Universal Truths

B.) The Four Noble Truths

C.) The Eight Fold Path

D.) The Five Precepts

E.) The Brahmā-vihāras

F.) The Ten Fetters

G.) The Seven Factors of Enlightenment

H.) Extensive Meditation Training

All of these Teachings are provided in the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1) in The Words of The Buddha book series and there will need to be consistent and ongoing learning, reflecting, and practicing to develop one’s life practice to deeply understand and practice these Teachings.

This Teaching is in the book “The First Stage of Enlightenment” (Volume 5) for a reason, it is something that a Student would need to build up to in order to deeply understand and be able to see the truth in this Teaching. As you need help, you are welcome to reach out for guidance.

2.) The Cycle of Discontentedness: You can observe the constant cycle of discontentedness within your own unEnlightened mind.

The mind will chase pleasant feelings through craving/desire/attachment and if it gets the objects of its affection, it will experience pleasant feelings. If not, it will experience painful feelings.

You can see how this cycle just continues and continues as the mind is stuck in this constant and continuous “cycle” - The Cycle of Rebirth, as it has craving/desire/attachment.

Craving/Desire/Attachment/Wants/Expectations/Grasping/Holding/Clinging: a mental longing for something with a strong eagerness. The mind pulling in a direction for objects of its affection.

3.) Have you ever observed any beings that come into existence without craving/desire/attachment?: Observing new born babies, have you ever seen a being come into existence that did not have craving/desire/attachment?

Thus, you can understand and conclude that “all beings that are born are experiencing rebirth due to craving/desire/attachment”. You will never find a being that is reborn that does not have craving/desire/attachment.

All beings that are born will have craving/desire/attachment, this is part of The Natural Laws of Existence and will always be true.

With this observation and all the other aspects of confirming the truth shared here, that “craving is the fuel that causes rebirth”, one can conclude that “craving is the fuel that causes rebirth” because there are no beings that are born that do not have craving/desire/attachment. Thus, all beings are reborn due to craving/desire/attachment. The cause of rebirth is craving/desire/attachment and that is observable through all newborns having craving/desire/attachment.

There is no being that is born without craving/desire/attachment because it is the fuel that causes rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth.

4.) Have you observed the diminishing of discontentedness? If so, what led to that? Abandoning of craving, anger, and ignorance?: If you have been learning, reflecting, and practicing The Teachings of The Buddha on The Path to Enlightenment and have observed improvements to the condition of the mind resulting in diminishing of discontentedness, what led to this reduction in discontentedness?

It is the elimination of craving, anger, and ignorance (unknowing of true reality) through the cultivation of generosity, loving-kindness, and wisdom.

You can see that with the elimination of craving/desire/attachment there is the elimination of the constant cycle of discontentedness. The mind is being “unstuck” in the constant and ongoing “cycle of discontentedness” (i.e. The Cycle of Rebirth).

If you understand that craving/desire/attachment is the cause of discontentedness and that through the elimination of craving/desire/attachment discontentedness is diminishing and ultimately eliminated, then you can see that this constant Cycle of Discontentedness is coming to a close due to the elimination of craving/desire/attachment. And, the ending of The Cycle of Rebirth is also eliminated through the elimination of craving/desire/attachment.

5.) With the elimination of fuel, there can be no spark to create the next fire: When there is a fire burning and it is sending off sparks into the air, that spark can light a new fire. As long as the original fire has fuel, it can send off sparks and create a new fire.

Craving, Anger, and Ignorance (unknowing of true reality) functions exactly the same way in the mind.

Craving, Anger, and Ignorance (unknowing of true reality) are referred to as The Three Poisons, The Three Unwholesome Roots, or The Three Fires.

These three fires are burning in the mind and as long as they are burning, there will be a new spark that leads to the next life (i.e. rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth).

It is only when all the fuel is extinguished that the fire is eliminated and there can no longer be a spark to create a new fire.

The same is true about The Three Fires burning in the mind.

As long as there is fuel, there will be a new life in The Cycle of Rebirth. Craving/desire/attachment is the fuel.

The craving/desire/attachment in the mind is like a burning fire. You can experience this as you observe the mind longing, yearning, and pulling in the direction of the objects of its affection. If it is raging strong enough, it might even feel uncontrolled, much like a raging fire or inferno in the mind.

As long as craving/desire/attachment exists in the mind, there will be discontentedness and rebirth. As a Practitioner is eliminating craving/desire/attachment they will observe the diminishing of discontentedness as the fire is being extinguished. When there is no longer any fuel of craving/desire/attachment, the fire is no longer burning and there cannot be rebirth into a new life.

Extinguish all of the craving/desire/attachment and there will be no discontentedness, no burning desires that is fueling the mind’s unquenchable thirst. An individual can experience complete and total peace of mind in this very life while understanding that due to the work you employed, there will no longer be any rebirth in a future life.

As long as there is work to be done in this world to eliminate craving/desire/attachment, the work is not complete. The mind is still holding on to this world therefore, it will continue to be reborn into this world repeatedly until it has done the work it needs to “let go”.

Once the mind gains the wisdom it needs to eliminate craving/desire/attachment, then and only then, can it be eliminated from this world and existence in The Cycle of Rebirth.