The Four Floods in Theravada Buddhism symbolize the overwhelming forces that pose a threat to the unwise, including sensory desires, false beliefs, craving for existence, and ignorance. These floods, which include sensual desire, becoming, views, and nescience, must be overcome by practicing the Eightfold Path. They represent a classification of defilements that can lead individuals into the cycle of rebirth, highlighting the importance of awareness and liberation from these detrimental influences.

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Buddhist concept of 'Four Floods'

Buddhism Books

The "Four Floods" in Buddhism symbolize the overwhelming defilements of sensual desire, becoming, false views, and ignorance. They represent dangers that ensnare individuals, urging the abandonment of these through the Eightfold Path to attain liberation.

Significance of The four floods in Theravada (major branch of Buddhism):

Theravada Books

From: Cetasikas

(1) A classification of defilements that can drown individuals and sweep them away into the ocean of rebirths.^[1] (2) The four floods refer to the overwhelming experiences of sensual desire, becoming, ignorance, and disregard for moral principles that hinder spiritual development.^[2]

From: Dhammapada (Illustrated)

(1) The overwhelming forces that threaten to drown the unwise, including sensory desires, false beliefs, craving for existence, and ignorance.^[3]

Theravada is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Plural form: The four floods.

Last Updated: 28 September, 2024