tṛṣṇā

(Sanskrit, thirst; Pāli, taṇhā). Craving or excessive or inappropriate desire. Tṛṣṇā is described in the second of the Four Noble Truths as the cause of the arising of suffering (duḥkha). It is subdivided into three forms: (1) sensual craving (kāma-tṛṣṇā); (2) craving for existing (bhava-tṛṣṇā); (3) craving for non-existence (vibhava-tṛṣṇā). In the doctrine of Dependent Origination (pratītya-samutpāda), tṛṣṇā occurs as the eighth link in the chain of twelve, where it is preceded by sensation (vedanā) and followed by grasping (upādāna). In relation to the senses, six forms of craving are distinguished: craving for sights, sounds, odours, tastes, contact, and mental impressions. Craving is also said to be threefold as directed towards the goal of rebirth in one of the three realms (triloka; dhātu).