The Buddha describes the three defilements - the taint of sensual desire, the taint of becoming, and the taint of ignorance, and the way of practice leading to their cessation.

ITI 56  Paṭhama āsava sutta - Defilements (First)

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, so I have heard:

“Tayome, bhikkhave, āsavā. Katame tayo? Kāmāsavo, bhavāsavo, avijjāsavoime kho, bhikkhave, tayo āsavā”ti.

“Bhikkhus, there are these three |defilements::outflows, discharges, taints [āsavā]|. What three? The |taint of sensual desire::oozing sensual desire [kāmāsava]|, the |taint of becoming::effluent of being, taint of existence [bhavāsava]|, and the |taint of ignorance::taint of not knowing how things have come to be, illusion of knowing, distorted perception [avijjāsava]|. These are the three defilements.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:

“Samāhito sampajāno,
sato buddhassa sāvako;
Āsave ca pajānāti,
āsavānañca sambhavaṁ.

“|Collected::composed, settled [samāhita]|, |fully aware::with attentiveness, with clear and full comprehension, intentional, purposeful [sampajāna]|,
a |mindful::remembering to be present with continuous effort, observing the body in and of itself, feelings in and of itself, mind in and of itself, mental qualities in and of itself [sata]| disciple of the Buddha;
|Discerns::distinguishes, understands, knows clearly [pajānāti]| the defilements,
and the |arising::origin, source [sambhava]| of defilements.

Yattha cetā nirujjhanti,
maggañca khayagāminaṁ;
Āsavānaṁ khayā bhikkhu,
nicchāto parinibbuto”ti.

Where these |cease::vanish, reach an end [nirujjhati]|,
and the way of practice |leading to their cessation::leading to exhaustion, leading to wearing away [khayagāmī]|;
With the cessation of defilements, the bhikkhu,
is |satiated::free from craving, desireless [nicchāta]| and |completely quenched [of mental defilements]::completely cooled mental defilements [parinibbuta]|.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.

Last updated on September 22, 2025

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