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Grammatical Analysis
Lobha: [m.] greed; attachment; lust; covetousness. From root lubh (to covet, desire, cling to). Signifies the psychological drawing toward or grabbing of an object.
Orthodox Definition
Lobha is the first of the three unwholesome roots (akusala-mūla) that generate all unwholesome mental states, actions, and future karmic suffering. In the Abhidhamma, it is classified as a specific unwholesome mental factor (akusala-cetasika). While taṇhā describes the ongoing thirst or craving process, lobha is the underlying ethical root driving that process.
The Atthasālinī provides its specific structural criteria:
- Lakkhaṇa (Characteristic): Grasping or sticking to an object (upādāna-lakkhaṇo), like meat catching onto a hot frying pan or glue sticking to wood.
- Rasa (Function): Cleaving or pulling things in (allīyana-raso).
- Paccupaṭṭhāna (Manifestation): Not letting go or possessiveness (atatta-paccupaṭṭhāno).
- Padaṭṭhāna (Proximate Cause): Seeing enjoyment or utility in things that fetter existence.
Lobha operates across eight distinct types of unwholesome consciousness (lobhamūla-citta), manifesting as everything from subtle attachment to deep meditative states down to intense, blinding addiction.
Quote
479. Lubbhanti tena, sayaṃ vā lubbhati, lubbhanamattameva vā tanti lobho.
“479. That by which (beings) are greedy, or that which itself is greedy, or merely the state of being greedy—this is greed (lobha).”Muyhanti tena, sayaṃ vā muyhati, muyhanamattameva vā tanti moho.
“That by which (beings) are deluded, or that which itself is deluded, or merely the state of being deluded—this is delusion (moha).”Tesu lobho ārammaṇaggahaṇalakkhaṇo makkaṭālepo viya, abhisaṅgaraso tattakapāle khittamaṃsapesi viya.
“Among these, greed has the characteristic of clinging to an object, like monkey glue; its function is attachment, like a piece of meat thrown on a hot plate.”Apariccāgapaccupaṭṭhāno telañjanarāgo viya.
“It appears as non-relinquishment, like an oil stain.”Saṃyojaniyadhammesu assādadassanapadaṭṭhāno.
“Its proximate cause is seeing enjoyment in things that bind.”Taṇhānadībhāvena vaḍḍhamāno sīghasotā nadī iva mahāsamuddaṃ apāyameva gahetvā gacchatīti daṭṭhabbo.
“It should be understood that, growing in the manner of the river of craving (taṇhā), it carries beings to the states of woe (apāya) just as a swiftly flowing river carries anything that falls into it to the great ocean.”— Visuddhimagga (du)
Textual References
- Canonical: Dhammapada (v. 216) – “From craving springs grief, from craving springs fear; for one who is wholly free from craving there is no grief, whence fear?”
- Abhidhamma: Dhammasaṅgaṇī (Exposition on unwholesome states).
- Commentary: Atthasālinī – Detailed analytical dissection separating greed from its wholesome counterparts.