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Significance of Upakkilesa Sutta

The Upakkilesa Sutta, according to Theravada teachings, focuses on the mental defilements that practitioners may face while meditating. It emphasizes the importance of bhikkhus maintaining vigilance to avoid falling prey to deceptive distractions that can hinder their practice and progress. The discourse serves as a reminder to stay alert and aware of these challenges during meditation to cultivate a more focused and fruitful spiritual experience.

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

Buddhist concept of 'Upakkilesa Sutta'

Buddhism Books

The Upakkilesa Sutta highlights the importance of recognizing and overcoming mental defilements in meditation, advising bhikkhus to stay alert against distractions that can distort their practice and hinder spiritual progress.

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

From: Guide to Tipitaka

(1) This discourse addresses the mental defilements encountered during meditation, cautioning bhikkhus to remain vigilant against deceptive distractions.[1]

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).