365bet娱乐

Significance of Kilesa

Kilesa in Buddhism refers to the mental defilements or impurities that hinder spiritual progress and lead to suffering. These defilements encompass various forms such as greed, hatred, and delusion, which obstruct one鈥檚 path to enlightenment. Both Mahayana and Theravada traditions highlight the significance of overcoming Kilesa through practices like mindfulness and wisdom. By extinguishing these mental impurities, practitioners can achieve clarity, understanding, and ultimately reach Nibbana, freeing themselves from the cycle of samsara and the associated torment.

Synonyms: Defilement, Impurity, Contamination, Moral corruption, Vice, Unwholesomeness, Impurities

The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.

Buddhist concept of 'Kilesa'

Buddhism Books

Kilesa in Buddhism represents mental defilements or impurities鈥攕uch as craving and ignorance鈥攖hat obstruct spiritual progress and contribute to suffering. Overcoming these defilements is crucial for achieving enlightenment and understanding the Dhamma.

Significance in Theravada (major branch of Buddhism):
Theravada Books

From: Patipada (path of practice)

(1) Kilesas are those things which bind up and entangle them in various ways, and the monks should purge their hearts of these without giving up or losing heart, as if they were about to destroy the kilesas and get rid of them from their hearts at that moment leaving none remaining to cause them any more trouble.[1] (2) These are the negative mental states that dwell in the citta, and are the enemy of the heart, and are the focus of elimination and driving out.[2] (3) These are defilements or mental impurities that need to be gotten rid of in order to progress in the practice of Dhamma.[3] (4) Defilements or impurities of mind that lead to suffering and hinder spiritual progress.[4] (5) Defilements or unwholesome tendencies that lead individuals away from spiritual awakening and peace.[5]

From: Maha Buddhavamsa鈥擳he Great Chronicle of Buddhas

(1) Defilements or impurities of the mind that hinder knowledge and wisdom, contributing to suffering and hinder spiritual progress.[6] (2) Mental impurities or defilements that hinder one's spiritual progress and understanding.[7] (3) Defilements or impurities that afflict sentient beings, hindering their progress toward understanding the Dhamma.[8] (4) Defilements or impurities of the mind that cloud understanding and insight.[9] (5) Mental defilements or impurities that affect one's mind, specifically lust and attachment in this context.[10]

From: A Manual of Abhidhamma

(1) Kilesas are the passions or defilements that bind beings to the cycle of samsara and are extinguished upon attaining Nibbana.[11] (2) Defilements that torment the mind.[12]

From: Dhammapada (Illustrated)

(1) Mind-defiling qualities such as greed, hatred, and delusion that hinder spiritual progress.[13]

From: Catusacca Dipani

(1) Kilesa are passions or mental defilements that can corrupt the mind and contribute to the burden of a Brahma.[14]

From: Introducing Buddhist Abhidhamma

(1) Mental defilements that hinder progress toward enlightenment in Buddhism.[15]

From: Cetasikas

(1) Defilements that torment the mind and govern unwholesome mental states, classified into specific categories such as greed and ignorance.[16]

From: The Doctrine of Paticcasamuppada

(1) Mental defilements that contribute to suffering, which can be uprooted by attaining penetrative wisdom.[17]

Theravada is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Significance in Buddhism (general):

From: Apadana commentary (Atthakatha)

(1) Refers to depravity or defilements that afflict living beings, which the king wishes to extinguish using the fire of knowledge of the noble path.[18] (2) Sinful depravity or defilements that inhibit spiritual development and understanding, which Buddhas strive to overcome.[19] (3) Defilements or impurities of the mind that cloud perception and lead to suffering.[20] (4) Defilements or mental impurities that hinder spiritual progress and the path to enlightenment.[21] (5) Mental defilements or impurities that hinder spiritual progress, which Dhajadavaka was noted to be free from upon realizing arahatship.[22]

Significance in Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism):
Mahayana Books

From: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

(1) Mental impurities or defilements that hinder spiritual progress and meditation.[23]

Mahayana is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sutras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajnaparamita sutras.

Plural form: Kilesas.