The Buddha describes the three defilements - the taint of sensual desire, the taint of becoming, and the taint of ignorance, and one who is free from them.

ITI 57  Dutiya āsava sutta - Defilements (Second)

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:

“Yassa kāmāsavo khīṇo,
avijjā ca virājitā;
Bhavāsavo parikkhīṇo,
vippamutto nirūpadhi;
Dhāreti antimaṁ dehaṁ,
jetvā māraṁ savāhinin”ti.

“One whose taint of sensual desire is |exhausted::depleted, finished [khīṇa]|,
and ignorance has faded away;
One whose taint of existence is fully exhausted,
is completely released, and |free from attachment::free from grasping, not taking as mine, not appropriating [nirūpadhi]|;
He carries his final body,
having defeated |Māra::embodiment of all forces that keeps beings trapped in the cycle of rebirth [māra]| and his army.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

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

Qualities:

Dispassion

Also known as: detachment, disinterest, fading of desire, disentanglement
Pāli: virāga, visaṃyutta

Ending

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha

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

Self-making

Spiritual or worldly striving to “be someone,” the “I must become something” energy

Also known as: an aspiration for identity, drive for status or attainment, craving to be, romanticizing some better self or future state
Pāli: bhavataṇhā, bhavesanā

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: passion for sensual pleasures, lust, craving for pleasure, pull toward enticing sense objects
Pāli: kāmacchanda

Last updated on November 20, 2025