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Significance of Taint

Taint, in various spiritual traditions, signifies negative influences affecting one's spiritual journey. In Jainism, it denotes faults stemming from doubts that impair spiritual clarity. Dharmashastra views taint as destructive attachments and evil deeds driven by emotions like love and hatred, which can be mitigated through spiritual practices. Theravada also identifies taint as corrupting influences that impede spiritual progress, asserting that attaining spiritual purity requires the complete eradication of these impurities, with only those free from taint recognized as arahats.

Synonyms: Stain, Blemish, Contamination, Impurity, Pollution, Defilement, Corruption, Infection, Spoil, Contaminate, Corrupt, Mar

In Finnish: Pilata; In Spanish: Mancha; In Dutch: Vlek; In German: Verderben

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

Buddhist concept of 'Taint'

Buddhism Books

In Buddhism, "Taint" represents influences or impurities that obstruct spiritual growth. Achieving purity involves overcoming these taints, essential for attaining the status of arahats, individuals entirely free from such corrupting forces.

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

From: Dhammapada (Illustrated)

(1) Referred to as influences or corruptions that can motivate human behavior, significant in the context of achieving spiritual purity.[1] (2) Refers to the impurities or defilements that hinder spiritual progress; only those who have fully destroyed these taints can be considered arahats.[2]

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).

Hindu concept of 'Taint'

Hinduism Books

In Hinduism, "Taint" signifies the evil deeds and attachments stemming from emotions like love and hatred, deemed destructible and addressable through spiritual practices, emphasizing the transformative potential of spirituality.

Significance in Dharmashastra (religious law):
Dharmashastra Books

From: Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi

(1) Evil deeds originating from emotions such as love and hatred which can be overcome through spiritual practices.[3] (2) Evil deeds or attachments such as love and hatred that are considered destructible and can be addressed through spiritual practices.[4]

Dharmashastra contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.

Jain concept of 'Taint'

Jainism Books

In Jainism, Taint signifies a spiritual fault arising from doubts (shanka) that cloud one's beliefs and understanding, ultimately diminishing spiritual clarity and obstructing the path to enlightenment.

Significance in Jainism (general):

From: Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)

(1) A fault characterized by doubts (shanka) in one's beliefs or understanding, affecting one’s spiritual clarity.[5]

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance�) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Plural form: Taints.