Craving is Like the Spongy Flesh of a Boil

“Oh good man! How is craving like the spongy flesh of a boil? When a boil exists for a long time, there comes about a spongy flesh. The person patiently tries to cure it and the thought about it never leaves his mind. If one allows it to leave his mind (forgets it), the spongy flesh increases and worms may come about. As a result, the person dies. The same occurs with the boils of common mortals and the ignorant. The craving grows as a spongy flesh. One has to make effort and heal this spongy flesh of craving. If one does not, when one’s life ends, the three unfortunate realms await one. But the Bodhisattva is not amongst these. This is why we say that (craving) is like the spongy flesh of a boil.”

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 20 - On Holy Actions 2.