Tanha and Chanda

-A A +A
Wong Weng Hon

Tanha being unwholesome desire
Rooted in greed or selfishness
Tathagata discouraging the unskilled;
Abandoning it to avoid anguish.
Chanda being the wholesome desire
Rooted in non-greed and selflessness.
Tathagata encouraging the skilled;
Actualizing it to gain happiness.
Working with Tanha
Satisfying only one’s interest.
Working with Chanda
Satisfying one’s interest and those of others.
Tathagata proclaiming
in Anguttara Nikaya:
The Blind lacking right vision
of gaining and utilizing wealth
Ignorant of the skilled and unskilled;
Heading towards the evil destination.
The One-eyed with the right vision
of gaining and using wealth
But ignorant of the skilled and unskilled;
Heading towards unhappy destination.
The Two-eyed with the right vision of
obtaining and spending wealth
And heedful of the skilled and unskilled
Heading towards a good destination.
He is a fine human being
To be emulated by all.
Such is the recommendation
of the Bhagava.