Tanha (Craving) — The Origin of Suffering
Tanha (Pali) or trishna (Sanskrit) is the eighth link in dependent origination: from feeling arises craving. The Second Noble Truth identifies it as the origin of dukkha — not desire itself but the compulsive quality of grasping after experience. Three varieties: craving for sensory pleasure, craving for existence, craving for non-existence. Hex 31 (Influence/Wooing) is lake over mountain: the youngest daughter and youngest son attracted to each other. Mutual attraction, the pull that precedes choice. The I-Ching recognizes the naturalness of this pull — 'the superior man encourages people to approach him by his readiness to receive them.' But tanha is attraction that has lost awareness of itself, the pull mistaken for necessity. Hex 31 becomes suffering when influence becomes compulsion.