Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

3.2.4.3 The Four Noble Truths,¹ Part Three: Exposition of the Truth of the Cessation of Suffering²

“And what, monks, is the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering?

It is the complete fading away and cessation of this very craving, forsaking it and giving it up; the liberation from it, leaving no place for it. But where may this craving, monks, be eradicated; where may it be extinguished? Wherever in the world [of mind and matter] there is something enticing and pleasurable: there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished.

But what in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable? The eye in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The ear … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The nose … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The tongue … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The body … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The mind in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished.

The objects of sight, the material forms in the world [of mind and matter], are enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The sounds … are enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The smells … are enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The tastes … are enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. Touch … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The contents of the mind in the world [of mind and matter] are enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished.

The eye-consciousness in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The ear-consciousness … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The nose-consciousness … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The tongue-consciousness … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The body-consciousness … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The mind-consciousness in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished.

The eye-contact in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The ear-contact … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The nose-contact … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The tongue-contact … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The body-contact … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The mind-contact in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished.

The sensation that arises from the eye contact in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The sensation that arises from the ear contact … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The sensation that arises from the nose contact … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The sensation that arises from the tongue contact … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The sensation that arises from the body contact … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The sensation that arises from the mind contact in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished.

The perception of visible objects in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The perception of sounds … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The perception of smells … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The perception of tastes … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The perception of touch … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The perception of mental contents in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished.

The mental reaction towards visible objects in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The mental reaction towards sounds … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The mental reaction towards smells … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The mental reaction towards tastes … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The mental reaction towards touch … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The mental reaction towards mental contents in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished.

The craving after visible objects in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The craving after sounds … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The craving after smells … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The craving after tastes … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The craving after touch … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The craving after mental contents in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished.

The thought conception of visible objects in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The thought conception of sounds … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The thought conception of smells … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The thought conception of tastes … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The thought conception of touch … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The thought conception of mental contents in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished.

The rolling in thoughts of visible objects in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The rolling in thoughts of sounds … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The rolling in thoughts of smells … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The rolling in thoughts of tastes … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The rolling in thoughts of touch … is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished. The rolling in thoughts of mental contents in the world [of mind and matter] is enticing and pleasurable; there this craving may be eradicated and extinguished.

This, monks, is the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering.”