Numbered Discourses 9.23

1. Abodes of Sentient Beings

Rooted in Craving

“Mendicants, I will teach you about nine things rooted in craving.

And what are the nine things rooted in craving?

Craving gives rise to searching. Searching gives rise to gaining material things. Gaining material things gives rise to evaluation. Evaluation gives rise to desire and lust. Desire and lust gives rise to attachment. Attachment gives rise to ownership. Ownership gives rise to stinginess. Stinginess gives rise to safeguarding. Owing to safeguarding, many bad, unskillful things come to be: taking up the rod and the sword, quarrels, arguments, and disputes, accusations, backbiting, and lies.

These are the nine things rooted in craving.”