37 - Attachment (Upadana) in Buddhism and the Fire Sermon

Learn Buddhism with Alan Peto

What are we trying to end in Buddhism? The Three Fires of greed, anger, and ignorance result in karmic actions that trap us in rebirth and dukkha (suffering). But how did we get here in the first place? What "fuels" those three fires? It's Upadana. Literally "fuel", but often translated as "attachment". This is where we cling and attach to sense objects with our sense organs (we see something we like through our eyes for instance, and that gives rise to our mind/consciousness). When we guard our senses and tame our mind, we cut off the fuel to the three fires which is nirvana...our true mental state of freedom.

Also, in this episode I'll read the Fire Sermon (13 minutes into the episode) which gives context to Upadana and the Three Fires.

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