The Buddha describes the three quests of sensual pleasure, renewed existence, and spiritual life as the result of holding tight to the thought 'This is the truth' and the accumulation of bases for views.

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:

"Bhikkhus, there are these three quests (searches, pursuits [esanā]). What three? The quest for sensual pleasure, the quest for renewed existence, and the quest for spiritual life. These are the three quests."

The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:

"The quest for sensual pleasure, the quest for renewed existence,

along with the quest for spiritual life;

Result from holding tight to the thought, 'This is the truth' [1],

and the accumulation of bases for views (grounds for views, opinions, beliefs [diṭṭhiṭṭhānā]).

For one detached from all passion (with desire faded away [sabbarāgaviratta]),

who is liberated through the exhaustion of craving;

Quests are renounced (given up, relinquished [paṭinissaṭṭha]),

and bases for views are uprooted (eradicated [samūhata]);

With the cessation of quests, the bhikkhu,

is fulfilled (free from hope, desire-less [nirāsa]) and without doubt (without confusion [akathaṅkathī)."

This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.

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[1] holding tight to the thought, 'This is the truth' = clutching something as the Truth [saccaparāmāsa]

My understanding of this is that the quest making nature is deep-rooted and while there is the ultimate truth of Nibbāna, one cannot approach it through holding a view (a belief, an attitude, a theory) as being true. Rather, one does what is healthy, beneficial, and skillful and gradually builds a habit of doing so, leaving out doing what is not healthy, not beneficial, and not skillful.

Since, one's felt experiences (what feels pleasant, painful, and neither painful-nor-pleasant), perceptions, what one cognizes (distinguishes) and discerns are entwined, cannot be separated, one can rely on the felt experiences as a way to ground the mind into what is healthy, beneficial, and skillful.

Picture: Anatomical Painting, Pavel Tchelitchew, 1946

Related Teachings:

• Understanding the three quests (ITI 54) - The Buddha describes the three quests of sensual pleasure, renewed existence, and spiritual life.

• The effects of cultivating the eightfold path are gradual (DhP 273) - The noble eightfold path is the way of practice that leads to the ending of quests.

• Wisdom should be developed, consciousness should be fully understood (From MN 43) - A series of questions and answers between Venerable Sāriputta and Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika on clarifying subtle yet important aspects of the teachings.