sn.12.55 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

The Great Tree (1)

At Savatthī. “Bhikkhus, when one dwells contemplating gratification in things that can be clung to, craving increases. With craving as condition, clinging comes to be…. Such is the origin of this whole mass of suffering.

“Suppose, bhikkhus, there was a great tree, and all its roots going downwards and across would send the sap upwards. Sustained by that sap, nourished by it, that great tree would stand for a very long time. So too, when one lives contemplating gratification in things that can be clung to, craving increases…. Such is the origin of this whole mass of suffering.

“When, bhikkhus, one dwells contemplating danger in things that can be clung to, craving ceases. With the cessation of craving comes cessation of clinging…. Such is the cessation of this whole mass of suffering.

“Suppose, bhikkhus, there was a great tree. Then a man would come along bringing a shovel and a basket. He would cut down the tree at its foot, dig it up, and pull out the roots, even the fine rootlets and root-fibre. He would cut the tree into pieces, split the pieces, and reduce them to slivers. Then he would dry the slivers in the wind and sun, burn them in a fire, and collect the ashes. Having done so, he would winnow the ashes in a strong wind or let them be carried away by the swift current of a river. Thus that great tree would be cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated so that it is no more subject to future arising.

“So too, bhikkhus, when one dwells contemplating danger in things that can be clung to, craving ceases…. Such is the cessation of this whole mass of suffering.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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A Great Tree

At Sāvatthī.
“There are things that are prone to being grasped. When you concentrate on the gratification provided by these things, your craving grows.
Craving is a condition for grasping.
Grasping is a condition for continued existence. …
That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.
Suppose there was a great tree.
And its roots going downwards and across all draw the sap upwards.
Fueled and sustained by that, the great tree would stand for a long time.
In the same way, there are things that are prone to being grasped. When you concentrate on the gratification provided by these things, your craving grows.
Craving is a condition for grasping. …
That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.
There are things that are prone to being grasped. When you concentrate on the drawbacks of these things, your craving ceases.
When craving ceases, grasping ceases.
When grasping ceases, continued existence ceases. …
That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.
Suppose there was a great tree.
Then a person comes along with a spade and basket.
They’d cut the tree down at the roots, dig it up, and pull the roots out, down to the fibers and stems.
They’d cut the tree apart, cut up the parts, and chop it into splinters. They’d dry the splinters in the wind and sun, burn them with fire, and reduce them to ashes. Then they’d winnow the ashes in a strong wind, or float them away down a swift stream.

In this way the great tree is cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.
In the same way, there are things that are prone to being grasped. When you concentrate on the drawbacks of these things, your craving ceases.
When craving ceases, grasping ceases.
When grasping ceases, continued existence ceases. …
That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.”