Part 8 - Craving: The Birth of “I Want”
(Taṇhā — The Desire That Fuels Becoming)
When feeling is not seen clearly,
the mind reacts.
Pleasant → “I want more.”
Unpleasant → “I want this gone.”
Neutral → “I want something to happen.”
This reaction is craving (taṇhā).
And this is where:
the first “I” appears.
Not the deep “self” yet—
but a primitive movement toward:
- grasping
- resisting
- distracting
Craving is the moment the mind says:
“This experience must change
because I am involved.”
Three faces of craving
The Buddha identified three specific patterns:
1️⃣ Craving for pleasure (kāma-taṇhā)
“I need what feels good.”
2️⃣ Craving for becoming (bhava-taṇhā)
“I must be someone.”
3️⃣ Craving for non-becoming (vibhava-taṇhā)
“I must erase this.”
All three assume
there is a self that benefit or suffer.
Thus craving is the womb of ego.
Why craving is so addictive
Craving gives a promise:
“If I get this,
I will finally be complete.”
But every time the mind gets what it wants…
it wants again.
Craving never ends with satisfaction.
Craving ends with frustration.
The moment pleasure fades,
the cycle restarts:
→ more wanting
→ more fear
→ more self
→ more suffering
Craving creates the illusion of control
“I must make this work.”
“I must protect my image.”
“I must not fail.”
“I must be liked.”
Every “must”
is powered by craving.
Every “must”
creates pressure.
Every pressure
creates a fragile self
that can be broken.
Craving → identity → anxiety
Every. Single. Time.
But here is the secret
Craving does not need to be fought.
We do not need to suppress desire.
We only need to see craving as craving
—not as a command.
When craving is seen clearly,
it loses its power
before it becomes suffering.
One sentence summary of Part 8
Craving is the moment feeling becomes personal—
and the first “I” is born.