Significance of Asava
Asava is a versatile term with multiple meanings in various contexts. In the puranic context, it refers to alcohol derived from the Tala tree, important in certain rituals. In Theravada Buddhism, however, Asava denotes mental defilements or impurities that lead to attachment, craving, and suffering. These mental corruptions bind individuals to the cycle of birth and hinder spiritual progress. Bhikkhus seek to eliminate these Asavas through mindfulness and Dhamma, aiming for liberation from these toxic states to achieve enlightenment.
Synonyms: Tonic, Elixir, Potion, Brew, Infusion
In Dutch: Asava; In Finnish: Asava; In Spanish: Asava
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Buddhist concept of 'Asava'
Asava in Buddhism signifies mental impurities or defilements that obstruct enlightenment. These include cravings, attachments, and ignorance that bind individuals to rebirth, emphasizing the need for mindfulness and spiritual practice to eradicate them for liberation.
From: Maha Buddhavamsa鈥擳he Great Chronicle of Buddhas
(1) Mental poisons or impurities that hinder enlightenment, which Uruvela-Kassapa mistakenly believed he had eradicated before the Buddha confirmed his misunderstanding.[1] (2) Defilements or impurities in the mind that a wise bhikkhu strives to eradicate as part of the spiritual path.[2] (3) Cravings or defilements in the mind that bind beings to the cycle of rebirth, emphasized as gone in the arahat.[3]
From: Vinaya (2): The Mahavagga
(1) Toxic mental states or defilements that bind one to the cycle of birth and suffering, which Yasa is released from.[4] (2) Mental defilements that the venerable Sona struggled to overcome.[5] (3) The mental corruptions that lead to attachment, craving, and suffering, which the individuals aimed to be released from.[6]
From: Cetasikas
(1) Defilements or mental impurities that inhibit spiritual progress and can be destroyed through proper mindfulness and concentration.[7] (2) Defilements that are described as cankers, poisons, or intoxicants that flow from the senses and the mind.[8]
From: Mahavamsa
(1) Defilements or impurities that the bhikkhus sought to be free from.[9]
From: A Discourse on Paticcasamuppada
(1) The biases or defilements that arise from attachment to sensual pleasure, existence, belief, and ignorance.[10]
From: The Doctrine of Paticcasamuppada
(1) Residual impurities or mental hindrances that prevent one from achieving enlightenment.[11]
From: Vinaya (3): The Cullavagga
(1) Mental impurities including sensuality, individuality, delusion, and ignorance from which Bhikkhus seek liberation.[12]
From: Dhammapada (Illustrated)
(1) Impurities or defilements in the mind, such as sensuality, existence, and ignorance, which the monk strives to eliminate.[13]
From: Patipada (path of practice)
(1) Asavas are diseases of the citta, that the Bhikkhus try to eliminate by using the power of the Dhamma remedy.[14]
From: Milindapanha (questions of King Milinda)
(1) Defilements or impurities within a person that need to be destroyed to attain a higher spiritual state.[15]
The concept of Asava in local and regional sources
Asava is a term that broadly applies to sugar-based liquors but has a specific meaning in Ayurvedic contexts, referring to a type of fermented medicine involving cold-added herbs.
From: History of Science in South Asia
(1) This is a word that can have a broad application to almost any liquor starting with a sugar base, though it also has a narrow sense in some ayurvedic sources of a fermented medicine in which the herbs are added cold.[16]