Upādāna

Upādāna is a word used in both Buddhism and Hinduism. In Buddhism, upādāna is a critical link in the arising of suffering. In Hinduism, upādāna is the material manifestation of Brahman.

Buddhism

Upādāna is the Sanskrit and Pāli word for "clinging", "attachment" or "grasping", although the literal meaning is "fuel". Upādāna and taṇhā (Skt. tṛṣṇā) are seen as the two primary causes of suffering. The cessation of clinging leads to Nirvana.

Types of clinging

In the Sutta Pitaka,the Buddha states that there are four types of clinging:

The Buddha once stated that, while other sects might provide an appropriate analysis of the first three types of clinging, he alone fully elucidated clinging to the "self" and its resultant suffering.

The Abhidhamma and its commentaries provide the following definitions for these four clinging types: