Venerable Sāriputta answers the wanderer Jambukhādaka on a question about defilements, explaining the Dhamma and the practice that leads to extinguishment.

SN 38.8 A Question About Defilements

“‘Āsavo, āsavo’ti, āvuso sāriputta, vuccati. Katamo nu kho, āvuso, āsavo”ti?

“Tayo me, āvuso, āsavā. Kāmāsavo, bhavāsavo, avijjāsavo ime kho, āvuso, tayo āsavā”ti.

“Atthi panāvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā etesaṁ āsavānaṁ pahānāyā”ti?

“Atthi kho, āvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā etesaṁ āsavānaṁ pahānāyā”ti.

“Katamo panāvuso, maggo katamā paṭipadā etesaṁ āsavānaṁ pahānāyā”ti? “Ayameva kho, āvuso, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo etesaṁ āsavānaṁ pahānāya, seyyathidaṁ sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi. Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā, etesaṁ āsavānaṁ pahānāyā”ti. “Bhaddako, āvuso, maggo bhaddikā paṭipadā, etesaṁ āsavānaṁ pahānāya. Alañca panāvuso sāriputta, appamādāyā”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“‘Āsavo, āsavo’ti, āvuso sāriputta, vuccati.

“Reverend Sāriputta, they speak of this thing called ‘defilement’.

Katamo nu kho, āvuso, āsavo”ti?

What is defilement?”

“Tayo me, āvuso, āsavā.

“Reverend, there are three defilements.

Kāmāsavo, bhavāsavo, avijjāsavo

The defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.

ime kho, āvuso, tayo āsavā”ti.

These are the three defilements.”

“Atthi panāvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā etesaṁ āsavānaṁ pahānāyā”ti?

“But, reverend, is there a path and a practice for completely understanding these three defilements?”

“Atthi kho, āvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā etesaṁ āsavānaṁ pahānāyā”ti.

“There is.” …

“Katamo panāvuso, maggo katamā paṭipadā etesaṁ āsavānaṁ pahānāyā”ti?

“Ayameva kho, āvuso, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo etesaṁ āsavānaṁ pahānāya, seyyathidaṁ

sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā, etesaṁ āsavānaṁ pahānāyā”ti.

“Bhaddako, āvuso, maggo bhaddikā paṭipadā, etesaṁ āsavānaṁ pahānāya.

Alañca panāvuso sāriputta, appamādāyā”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Delusion

Delusion

A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.

Also known as: illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view
Pāli: moha, micchāñāṇa
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Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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Ignorance

Ignorance

A fundamental blindness to the true nature of reality. It is not merely a lack of information, but an active misperception that views the transient as permanent and the unsatisfactory as a source of happiness, thereby fueling the cycle of suffering.

Also known as: illusion of knowing, fundamental unawareness of the true nature of reality, misunderstanding of how things have come to be, not knowing the four noble truths
Pāli: avijjā
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Sensual desire

Sensual desire

A mental quality of desiring sensory gratification. It pulls the mind’s attention toward sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touches in a search for satisfaction.

Also known as: craving for sensuality, passion for sensual pleasures, lust, pull toward enticing sense objects
Pāli: kāmacchanda
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Last updated on July 27, 2026