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

Dispassion

The fading of desire and attraction toward conditioned things. It arises through seeing the impermanent and unsatisfactory nature of experience. It is the natural fragrance of understanding and the forerunner of release.

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

Ending

The complete exhaustion and cessation of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

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

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
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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: passion for sensual pleasures, lust, craving for pleasure, pull toward enticing sense objects
Pāli: kāmacchanda
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Last updated on December 3, 2025