Chapter 6 - Extinction Of Craving

In short, with the complete extinction of tanha due to Arahatship, there is the complete extinction of all its consequences and this means the extinction of suffering. It does not imply the disappearance of happiness or a living being. It is simply the cessation of the nama rupa process that is the source of dukkha.

Just as Arahatship means complete extinction of craving, the attainment of anagami stage on the path means extinction of sensuous craving together with rebirth in the sensual world, old age, death, etc. At the sotapatti stage, the yogi is assured of extinction of all craving that may lead to the lower worlds or more than seven existences. So he is free from all suffering of the lower worlds and the suffering for more than seven lifetimes in the sensual world. Thus implicit in the Paticcasamuppada is the lessening of dukkha with the weakening of tanha.

Likewise, the vipassana insight ensures the momentary extinction of tanha. The arising of six sense objects leads to pleasant or unpleasant feeling and in the absence of vipassana insight, it finally ends in tanha and its attendant suffering.

But as for the yogi who practises constant mindfulness and has developed vipassana insight, he finds only the arising and passing away of all phenomena, their impermanence, suffering and impersonality. He also finds that the pleasant or unpleasant feeling arises and passes away instantly. So he does not delight in the feeling that arises, he does not crave for another feeling; he is free from all craving.

Extinction of craving on the Ariyan holy path differs from extinction by vipassana in that in the former case, the extinction is permanent and it concerns every sense object whereas in the latter case extinction is neither permanent nor universal. Tanha is extinct only at the moment of contemplation and only in respect of the object contemplated. Hence, it is called “tadanga nibbuti”, momentary or partial extinction of defilements.

The yogi who practises meditation is barely aware of seeing, hearing, etc. This state of bare awareness leaves no room for tanha and as a result upadana (clinging), kamma, rebirth, etc., cease to occur. In other words, with the cessation of tanha, the samsaric cycle is partly cut off and this is called tadanga nibbuti.