➥ vanatha and vana.

• for vanatha:
  • craving
• for vana:
  • craving
• for nibbanatha:
  • freedom from craving
• for nibbana:
  • freedom from craving

Vana and vanatha: the negatives

The negatives of vana and vanatha are nibbana and nibbanatha. See quotes below.

Vanatha: controversy

The meaning of vanatha [vana + tha] is unsettled. The primary meaning is ‘underwood, brushwood, thicket.’ In its figurative sense PED says ‘lust, desire.’ Buddhaghosa says kilesa. Dhammapāla says taṇhā. For example:

• Vanatho jāto (SN ii 158). Commentary: kilesavanaṁ jātaṁ. (Buddhaghosa)
• Vanathaṁ na kareyya kuhiñci (Tha 1214). Commentary: taṇhaṁ na kareyyaṁ (Dhammapāla).

Vanatha means taṇhā

Vanatha should be called taṇhā, not attachment, for two reasons:

1) the words nibbanatho visallo occur together on two occasions, indicating synonymity, (Tha 525-6; SN i 180) where visallo means ‘free of the arrow of taṇhā.’ And if nibbanatho (nis + vanatha) and visallo are synonyms, then so are vanatha and taṇhā. See illustrations below.

2) In Snp 16 vanatha is the basis of grasping. This again fits well with calling it taṇhā not attachment. See illustrations below.

Vana: controversy

Vana has two meanings, vana1 (=Vedic vana) and vana2 (=van). The former means ‘jungle,’ the latter means ‘desire’. The two words are confused in exegetical literature, says sharply critical PED:

‘The Pāli (edifying) etymology clearly takes vana1 as belonging to vana2, and dogmatically equals it with vana2 as an allegorical expression (‘jungle’) to taṇhā.’

What we said about vanatha we can repeat with vana (i.e. vana2). PED repeats its position on vanatha (i.e. ‘lust, desire’), but the commentators now switch. Dhammapāla says kilesa, and Buddhaghosa says taṇhā:

• Nibbano (Snp 1131): kilesavanavirahito taṇhāvirahito eva vā (Buddhaghosa).
• Vanādhimutto (Dhp 344): taṇhāvanā mutto (Buddhaghosa).
• Vanā (Tha 691): kilesavanato. (Dhammapāla)

Vana and vanatha: synonyms

The following quotes treat vana and vanatha (=banatha) as synonyms:

• Having cut down all forms of craving, be free of craving, bhikkhus.

Chetvā vanañca vanathañca nibbanā hotha bhikkhavo. (Dhp 283)

• He, [wanting to be] free of craving, was intent upon [life in] the forest. [Wanting to be] free of craving he ran to the forest.

Yo nibbanatho vanādhimutto vanamutto vanameva dhāvati. (Dhp 344)

• My craving is chopped down at the root… I am free of craving.

ucchinnamūlaṁ me vanaṁ… nibbanatho. (SN i 180)

➥ vanatho: (main article see: vanatha)

Illustration: vanatho, craving

By consorting [with householders and ascetics] craving is born. By remaining aloof [from householders and ascetics] it is cut.

Saṁsaggā vanatho jāto asaṁsaggena chijjati. (SN ii 158)

Commentary (Buddhaghosa): Vanatho jāto ti kilesavanaṁ jātaṁ

➥ vanathaṁ kareyya: (main article see: vanatha)

Illustration: vanathaṁ kareyya, cultivate craving

One should not cultivate craving for anything. One who is free of craving, being without craving, he is a bhikkhu.

Vanathaṁ na kareyya kuhiñci nibbanatho avanatho sa bhikkhu. (Tha 1214)

Commentary (Dhammapāla): Vanathaṁ na kareyya kuhiñcīti ajjhattikabāhirappabhede sabbasmiṁ vatthusmiṁ taṇhaṁ na kareyyaṁ. Nibbanatho avanatho sa bhikkhū ti yo hi sabbena sabbaṁ nittaṇho.

Illustration: vanatho, craving

He in whom there is nothing born of craving acting as a cause for emotional bondage [to individual existence]

Yassa vanathajā na santi keci vinibandhāya bhavāya hetukappā. (Snp 16)

Comment:

Vanathajā na santi keci vinibandhāya bhavāya hetukappā: ‘nothing born of craving acting as a cause for emotional bondage [to individual existence].‘ This ‘nothing’ would be grasping, because:

• Without grasping what is unlasting, intrinsically unsatisfactory, destined to change, could there arise psychological bondage, stubborn attachment, emotional bondage, and cleaving?

Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ api nu taṁ anupādāya uppajjeyyuṁ saṁyojanābhinivesa-vinibandhājjhosānā ti. No hetaṁ bhante, (SN iii 187)

Commentary (Buddhaghosa): Vanathā jātāti vanathajā ti. Keci panāhu sabbepi kilesā gahanaṭṭhena vanatho ti vuccanti, aparāparuppannā pana vanathajā ti.

Illustration: vanatho, craving

So long as even the slightest craving of a man for women is not obliterated, so long is he emotionally bound to them, like a suckling calf to its mother.

Yāva hi vanatho na chijjati aṇumatto pi narassa nārisu
Paṭibaddhamano va tāva so vaccho khīrapako va mātari. (Dhp 284)

Commentary (Buddhaghosa): Yāva hi vanatho ti yāva esa aṇumattopi kilesavanatho narassa nārīsu na chijjati.

➥ nibbanatho: (main article see: vanatha)

Illustration: nibbanatho, free of craving

Free of craving, with the arrow [of craving] removed I find delight alone in the woods.

Svāhaṁ vane nibbanatho visallo eko rame. (SN i 180)

Commentary (Buddhaghosa): Nibbanatho ti nikkilesavano

➥ vanaṁ: (main article see: vanatha)

Illustration: vanaṁ, craving

There is nothing in the woods I need to do. My craving is chopped down at the root. It is dried up. Free of craving, with the arrow [of craving] removed, and with disgruntlement [with the celibate life] cast off, I find delight alone in the woods.

Na me vanasmiṁ karaṇīyamatthi ucchinnamūlaṁ me vanaṁ visūkaṁ
Svāhaṁ vane nibbanatho visallo eko rame aratiṁ vippahāyāti. (SN i 180)

Commentary (Buddhaghosa): Ucchinnamūlaṁ me vanan ti mayhaṁ kilesavanaṁ ucchinnamūlaṁ. Nibbanathoti nikkilesavano

➥ nibbano: (main article see: vanatha)

Illustration: nibbano, free of craving

• Free of sensuous yearning, free of craving

Nikkāmo nibbano. (Snp 1131)

Commentary (Buddhaghosa): Nibbano ti kilesavanavirahito taṇhāvirahito eva vā

➥ vanā: (main article see: vanatha)

Illustration: vanā, craving; nibbano, freedom from craving

Gone from craving to freedom from craving.

Vanā nibbanamāgataṁ. (Tha 691)

Commentary (Dhammapāla): Vanā nibbanamāgatan ti kilesavanato tabbirahitaṁ nibbanaṁ upagataṁ