From attachment springs grief, from attachment springs fear. From him who is wholly free from attachment there is no grief, whence then fear?
From attachment springs grief, from attachment springs fear. For him who is wholly free from attachment there is no grief, whence then fear?
Deep Commentary
This verse was spoken near Vesali regarding the Licchavi princes. While traveling to a festival, these princes, appearing as radiant as heavenly beings, encountered a woman. Driven by intense sensual desire and ego, they began fighting over her, resulting in severe injuries and bloodshed. Observing this, the Buddha taught his monks that where there is sensual craving (kama), there is inevitably suffering, anxiety, and conflict. This narrative illustrates how the pursuit of transient desires overrides human decency and morality. The Buddha distinguished between unwholesome craving (taphā)—which leads to suffering—and wholesome aspiration (kusala-chanda)—such as the desire to serve others or seek enlightenment. To live in peace and ultimately attain liberation, one must cultivate contentment, limit unhealthy desires, and eventually transcend the attachments that fuel the cycle of suffering and fear.
This verse from the Dhammapada, Chapter 16, Verse 214, teaches that both grief and fear arise directly from attachment. The story of the Licchavi princes fighting over a woman illustrates this vividly: their intense sensual desire led to conflict and suffering.
When we are deeply attached to people, possessions, or even ideas, the potential loss or change of these things creates sorrow and anxiety. The Buddha explains that true freedom from grief and fear comes from being entirely free from such attachments. This doesn't mean suppressing all desires, but rather distinguishing between unwholesome craving (which causes suffering) and wholesome aspirations (like the desire for enlightenment or to help others). By cultivating contentment and limiting unhealthy desires, one can transcend the cycle of suffering and fear, leading to peace and liberation.
What attachments do you notice in your own life that might be sources of grief or fear?
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