Part 15 - Not Fueling the Fire of Craving
(Ending Taṇhā in Real Time — Before It Defines “Me”)
Craving (taṇhā) is not a command.
It is a suggestion by the mind.
Craving says:
- “You must get this.”
- “You must escape that.”
- “You must fix yourself.”
- “You must be seen.”
If we believe the suggestion,
craving grows into identity.
If we see the suggestion as a suggestion,
craving fades—
without a fight.
Craving is a REQUEST
not a REQUIREMENT
We don’t have to obey every urge.
An itch does not require scratching.
A desire does not require acting.
A fear does not require hiding.
A thought does not require believing.
Craving only has power
when we treat it like truth.
How to recognize craving instantly
Craving feels like:
- pressure (“I must…”)
- pulling (“I need…”)
- pushing (“I can’t stand…”)
It always adds tension.
Pleasant craving: tightening to grasp
Unpleasant craving: tightening to escape
Neutral craving: tightening to stir things up
If you notice the tightness,
you found craving.
What to do when craving appears
Just one thing:
“See craving as craving.”
Not as:
- a personal flaw
- a spiritual failure
- a sin
- an order
When you see it clearly,
without joining the story…
Craving cannot become clinging.
Clinging cannot become identity.
Identity cannot suffer.
The chain ends
right there.
The shift of power
Ignorance:
“I must satisfy this urge.”
→ craving grows
Wisdom:
“This urge is just a sensation.”
→ craving fades
No struggle
No repression
No drama
Just non-cooperation
Craving is a salesman
You simply stop buying.
The freedom of “not feeding the fire”
When craving is not nourished:
- the mind becomes light
- emotions become fluid
- mistakes become harmless
- the present moment becomes home
You discover a peace that does not depend
on getting what you want
or getting rid of what you dislike.
One sentence summary of Part 15
Craving ends when it is seen
as a harmless suggestion,
not a personal demand.