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               The thesis entitled “The Use of Taṇhā for the Promotion of Wholsome Deeds in Buddhism” was to study the ways to use Taṇhā (craving) as the motivation to promote wholesome deeds (Kusalakamma) in Buddhism. The study consisted of three objectives namely: 1) to study the concept of Taṇhā in Buddhist scriptures, 2) to study the use of Taṇhā for the promotion of wholesome deeds in Buddhism, and 3) to propose ways for applying Taṇhā for the promotion of wholsome deeds in Buddhism in today’s society. The study was documentary research with the data collected mainly from the primary source such as the Tipiṭaka.

               From the study, it was found that Taṇhā referred to craving. It is the state of restless mind that wants to experience desirable objects causing an insatiable pursuit, getting attached to it and not wanting it to change. On the other hand, undesirable objects cause a desire of getting rid of it. Taṇhā is conditioned by Vedanā (feelings), with Avijjā (Ignorance) as its root cause. Taṇhā arises from the process of co-working among external objects, internal senses, and consciousness, which is called 'Phassa' (contact). The contact gives rise to Vedanā (feeling). And Vedanā gives rise to Taṇhā. The Taṇhā can be divided into three types: 1) divided into 3 kinds according to categories, 2) divided into 6 kinds according to objects, and 3) divided into 108 kinds according to times.

               Taṇhā is the main cause of suffering. To benefit from Taṇhā, it must be transformed into Chanda (wholesome motivation), that is, initially Taṇhā must be used as motivation followed by having the right knowledge and understanding, only then Taṇhā can be transformed into Chanda. Taṇhā or negative motivation must be controlled by Sikkhāttya (the Threefold Learning), in other words, Sīlasikkhā (training in morality) controls Taṇhā to be in line of morality.

              Citta-sikkhā (training in mentality) controls the mind not to be dominated by Taṇhā. Paññāsikkhā (training in wisdom) helps to know and understand the truth leading to liberation from being dominated by Taṇhā. As in the case of Anāthapiṇḍika, the wealthy man who took advantages of Taṇhā, that was, the desire for wages of Kāla, his only son, by asking him to go listen to the Dhamma every day. After some times passed, Anāthapiṇḍika gave one more condition, namely, if Kāla could remember one Dhamma principle, he would get higher wage. From wanting to get more and more wages leading Kāla to listen to the Dhamma more and more and could eventually remember them. This was like the process of purifying the mind and giving rise to wisdom. Eventually, Kāla attained Sotāpatti fruition.

               In today’s society, material prosperity has been going fast. People in society have turned to seek physical happiness rather than mentally happiness. The society is lack of virtue, morality, the right knowledge, and understanding of the Dhamma. Therefore, to use Taṇhā as the motivation to promote wholesome deeds in today’s society requires the basic Dhamma, that are, to have knowledge and understanding of the causes, the ways to alleviate suffering and the ways to end suffering by applying the simple Dhamma that can be applied in the way of life in today’s society. Most importantly, the correct principles of Buddhism must be maintained by means of self-development according to the process of Sikkhāttya (the Threefold Learning), which is a system and a human development process that connects all aspects. An example of using Taṇhā to promote success such as creating conditions in studying, that is, if the learning outcome is good, the student will be awarded; if the salesperson is able to sell more than the specified amount, he/she will be awarded commission. All these conditions are created in order to motivate a person to achieve a goal by using the benefit from Taṇhā as a motivation leading to success.

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