Āsava is a Pali term (Sanskrit: Āsrava) that is used in Buddhist scripture, philosophy, and psychology, meaning "influx, canker." It refers to the mental defilements of sensual pleasures, craving for existence, and ignorance, which perpetuate samsara, the beginningless cycle of rebirth, dukkha, and dying again.
Asavas are also translated as "karmic predilections" and "karmic propensities" in Buddhism.[1] The term is also common in Jainism literature, and sometimes appears equivalently as Asrava or Anhaya.[2] However, Buddhism rejects the karma and asava theories of Jainism, and presents a different version instead.[1]
The commentaries derive the word from a root su meaning "to flow." Scholars differ as to whether the flow implied by the prefix ā is inward or outward; hence some have rendered it as "influxes" or "influences," others as "outflows" or "effluents."[3]
Ajahn Sucitto in his book 'Kamma and the end of Kamma' describes asavas as "underlying biases" (that fabricate things, emotions, sensations, and responses), which condition grasping through which samsara operates.
The āsavas are mental defilements that perpetuate samsara, the beginningless cycle of rebirth, dukkha, and dying again. Carr and Mahalingam:
inflow, influx, influence; mental bias or canker, cankers that keep one bound to the world of samsāra; used particularly in Jainism and Buddhism.[4]
Bikkhu Bodhi:
A stock passage in the suttas indicates the term's real significance independently of etymology when it describes the āsavas as states "that defile, bring renewal of existence, give trouble, ripen in suffering, and lead to future birth, aging and death" (MN 36.47; I 250). Thus other translators, bypassing the literal meaning, have rendered it "cankers," "corruptions," or "taints."[3]
De Silva further explains: The word canker suggests something that corrodes or corrupts slowly. These figurative meanings perhaps describe facets of the concept of āsava: kept long in storage, oozing out, taint, corroding, etc.[5]
Number of āsavas
Some Pali canons mention three āsava that sustain karmic flow. These three mentioned in the Nikāyas are "karmic propensities for sensual pleasures (kāmāsava), karmic propensities for existence (bhavāsava), and karmic propensities for ignorance (avijjāsava)".[1][3]
Other Pali texts mention four āsava, adding diṭṭhāsava or "karmic propensities for a viewpoint or perspective".[1][5]
In either case, these texts assert that the complete destruction of all these asavas is synonymous with complete Awakening.[1]
Liberation
According to Rhys Davids & Stede (1921–25), "Freedom from the 'Āsavas' constitutes Arahantship."[6] According to Bhikkhu Bodhi,
When the disciple's mind is liberated from the taints by the completion of the path of arhantship, he reviews his newly won freedom and roars his lion's roar: "Birth is destroyed, the spiritual life has been lived, what had to be done has been done; there is no more coming back to any state of being."[3]
^ abcdeDan Lusthaus (2014). Buddhist Phenomenology: A Philosophical Investigation of Yogacara Buddhism and the Ch'eng Wei-shih Lun. Routledge. pp. 73–74 with notes 1 and 4. ISBN978-1-317-97342-3.
^Govind Chandra Pande (1995). Studies in the Origins of Buddhism. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 361–362 with note 253. ISBN978-81-208-1016-7.
Bhikkhu Bodhi, ed. (2005), In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pāli Canon, Boston: Wisdom Publications
Buddharakkhita (1985), The Dhammapada: The Buddha's Path of Wisdom, Kandy, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Publication Society
De Silva, Padmasiri (2000), An introduction to Buddhist psychology, Rowman & Littefield, ISBN978-0-7425-0857-6
Carr, Brian; Mahalingam, Indira (1997), Companion Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy, London; New York: Routledge, ISBN0-415-03535-X
Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli (1950), The Dhammapada
Rhys Davids; Stede (1921–25). . Archived from the original on 3 April 2008.
External links
Avijjā and Āsava, Surendranath Dasgupta, 1940
January 07, 2023
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This article is about the Buddhist philosophical term For the philosophical term in Jainism see Asrava See also Five hindrances and Taṇha Asava is a Pali term Sanskrit Asrava that is used in Buddhist scripture philosophy and psychology meaning influx canker It refers to the mental defilements of sensual pleasures craving for existence and ignorance which perpetuate samsara the beginningless cycle of rebirth dukkha and dying again Asavas are also translated as karmic predilections and karmic propensities in Buddhism 1 The term is also common in Jainism literature and sometimes appears equivalently as Asrava or Anhaya 2 However Buddhism rejects the karma and asava theories of Jainism and presents a different version instead 1 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Meaning 2 1 Samsara 2 2 Number of asavas 2 3 Liberation 3 Textual appearance 4 Notes 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksEtymology EditAccording to Bhikkhu Bodhi The commentaries derive the word from a root su meaning to flow Scholars differ as to whether the flow implied by the prefix a is inward or outward hence some have rendered it as influxes or influences others as outflows or effluents 3 Ajahn Sucitto in his book Kamma and the end of Kamma describes asavas as underlying biases that fabricate things emotions sensations and responses which condition grasping through which samsara operates Meaning EditSamsara Edit Main article Samsara Buddhism The asavas are mental defilements that perpetuate samsara the beginningless cycle of rebirth dukkha and dying again Carr and Mahalingam inflow influx influence mental bias or canker cankers that keep one bound to the world of samsara used particularly in Jainism and Buddhism 4 Bikkhu Bodhi A stock passage in the suttas indicates the term s real significance independently of etymology when it describes the asavas as states that defile bring renewal of existence give trouble ripen in suffering and lead to future birth aging and death MN 36 47 I 250 Thus other translators bypassing the literal meaning have rendered it cankers corruptions or taints 3 De Silva further explains The word canker suggests something that corrodes or corrupts slowly These figurative meanings perhaps describe facets of the concept of asava kept long in storage oozing out taint corroding etc 5 Number of asavas Edit Some Pali canons mention three asava that sustain karmic flow These three mentioned in the Nikayas are karmic propensities for sensual pleasures kamasava karmic propensities for existence bhavasava and karmic propensities for ignorance avijjasava 1 3 Other Pali texts mention four asava adding diṭṭhasava or karmic propensities for a viewpoint or perspective 1 5 In either case these texts assert that the complete destruction of all these asavas is synonymous with complete Awakening 1 Liberation Edit According to Rhys Davids amp Stede 1921 25 Freedom from the Asavas constitutes Arahantship 6 According to Bhikkhu Bodhi When the disciple s mind is liberated from the taints by the completion of the path of arhantship he reviews his newly won freedom and roars his lion s roar Birth is destroyed the spiritual life has been lived what had to be done has been done there is no more coming back to any state of being 3 Textual appearance EditSarvepalli Radhakrishnan in his translation of the Dhammapada notes that the word asava appears in the Dhammapada in verses 93 226 253 292 and 293 7 Verse 226 chapter 17 verse 6 has been translated by Acharya Buddharakkhita as follows Those who are ever vigilant who discipline themselves day and night and are ever intent upon Nibbana their defilements fade away 8 note 1 Notes Edit Radhakrishnan 6 sada jagaramananam ahorattanusikkhinamnibbaṇam adhimuttanam atthaṁ gacchanti asava 226 9 References Edit a b c d e Dan Lusthaus 2014 Buddhist Phenomenology A Philosophical Investigation of Yogacara Buddhism and the Ch eng Wei shih Lun Routledge pp 73 74 with notes 1 and 4 ISBN 978 1 317 97342 3 Govind Chandra Pande 1995 Studies in the Origins of Buddhism Motilal Banarsidass pp 361 362 with note 253 ISBN 978 81 208 1016 7 a b c d Bhikkhu Bodhi 2005 p 229 Carr amp Mahalingam 1997 p 948 a b De Silva 2000 p 75 Rhys Davids amp Stede 1921 25 p 115 16 Radhakrishnan 1950 p 189 Buddharakkhita 1985 p 39 Radhakrishnan 1950 p 132 Sources EditBhikkhu Bodhi ed 2005 In the Buddha s Words An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon Boston Wisdom Publications Buddharakkhita 1985 The Dhammapada The Buddha s Path of Wisdom Kandy Sri Lanka Buddhist Publication Society De Silva Padmasiri 2000 An introduction to Buddhist psychology Rowman amp Littefield ISBN 978 0 7425 0857 6 Carr Brian Mahalingam Indira 1997 Companion Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy London New York Routledge ISBN 0 415 03535 X Radhakrishnan Sarvepalli 1950 The Dhammapada Rhys Davids Stede 1921 25 Asavas Archived from the original on 3 April 2008 External links EditAvijja and Asava Surendranath Dasgupta 1940 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Asava amp oldid 1087007275, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
