Rāga — Passion

This is part 3 of a course going through the similes and metaphors of the Buddha. Course home 1: Introduction to Imagery in the EBTs2: Taṇhā — Craving3: Rāga — Passion4: Vyāpāda — Hatred and Aversion5: Thīnamiddha — Sloth and Torpor6: Uddhaccakukkuca — Restlessness and Worry7: Vicikicchā — Doubt8: Vedanā — Feelings9: Vedanānupassanā — Investigating Feelings10: Sukha — Happiness11: Upekkhā — Equanimity12: Yathābhūtañāṇadassana — Knowledge and Vision of the Way Things Are13: Vimutti — Liberation14: Upādāna – Grasping15: Sakkāyadiṭṭhi - Self View16: Sammādiṭṭhi - Right View17: Saṅkhāra — Activity18: Vitakka — Thought19: Yoniso Manasikāra — Wise Attention20: Vipassanā — Insight21: Samatha & Vipassanā — Tranquility & Insight22: Samādhi — Immersion23: Viveka — Seclusion24: Vossagga — Letting Go25: Suññatā — Emptiness26: Conclusion

Illustration by Ayya Vimalayani aka "Ven Yodha"

Passion is the fire in our hearts that burns us alive. Far from romantic, rāga is our biggest enemy.

Textbook

Read Chapter 2 of:

From Craving to Liberation: Excursions into the Thought-world of the Pāli Discourses Volume 1 – Bhikkhu Anālayo (.pdf)

Suttas

SN 35.228: The Ocean (1)

Thag 2.39: Usubha (2)

MN 105.19: The Simile of the Field Surgeon

SN 41.5: With Kāmabhū

Similes

Read the introduction to Part 1 of Hecker now, and the similes: 7, 14, 39 and 44.

Reflections

I notice that the passion images (a stream, an ocean, an affliction) are more wet and natural than the images for its near-synonym “craving” (though of course still negative). What does this say about the Buddhist attitude towards passion (especially vis-a-vis craving)? How are they different?

Continue to Part 4, Vyāpāda — Hatred and Aversion

...or go back to part 2