Klesha, aka: Kleśa, Klesa; 6 Definition(s)
Introduction
Klesha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Kilesa (“defilements”), are mind-defiling, unwholesome qualities. Vis.M. XXII, 49, 65: There are 10 defilements, thus called because they are themselves defiled, and because they defile the mental factors associated with them.
They are:
- greed (lobha),
- hate (dosa),
- delusion (moha),
- conceit (māna),
- speculative views (ditthi),
- skeptical doubt (vicikicchā),
- mental torpor (thīna),
- restlessness (uddhacca);
- shamelessness (ahirika),
- lack of moral dread or unconscientiousness (anottappa)."
For 1-3, s. mūla; 4, s. māna; 5, s. ditthi; 6-8, s. nīvarana; 9 and 10, s. ahirika-anottappa.
The ten are explained in Dhs. 1229f and enumerated in Vibh. XII.
No classification of the k. is found in the Suttas, though the term occurs quite often in them. For the related term, upakkilesa ('impurities') different lists are given - (App.).
(Source): Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and DoctrinesTheravāda 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).
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Kleśa (क्लेश, “afflictions”).—The Bodhisattvas (accompanying the Buddha at Rājagṛha on the Gṛdhrakūṭaparvata) excelled in destroying various the afflictions (kleśa) according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 13. The afflictions (kleśa) are called kleśa (in Chinese, fan nao) because they vex (fan) and torment (nao) the mind.
There are two types of kleśa:
- inner attachment (ādhyātmikasaṅga),
- outer attachment (bāhyasaṅga).
The kleśas of inner attachment are the five dṛṣṭis, doubt (vicikitsā), pride (māna), etc.; the kleśas of outer attachment are lust (rāga), hatred (dveṣa), etc. Ignorance (avidyā) is both inner and outer.
(Source): Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
General definition (in Buddhism)
1) Kleśa (क्लेश) refers to the “six defilements” as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 67):
- rāga (passion),
- pratigha (repulsion),
- māna (conceit),
- avidyā (ignorance),
- kudṛṣṭi (bad view),
- vicikitsā (doubt).
The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (eg., kleśa). The work is attributed to Nagarguna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
2) Kleśa or Kleśamāra refers to the “defilements destroyer” and represents one of the “four destroyers” (māra) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 80).
(Source): Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgrahakleśa [kilesa] defilement, impurity or delusion. According to Buddhist psychology, mind is fundamentally pure but it is defiled by unwholesome qualities known as defilements that come from without. The defilements stand in the way of spiritual practice and obstruct wisdom. When they are latent and inactive in mind, they are known as residue (anuśaya) [anusaya]; when they become distinct, they are known as paryavasthāna [pariyuṭṭhāna].
According to the Abhidhamma the ten defilements are as follows.
- greed (lobha),
- hatred (doṣa) [dosa],
- delusion (moha),
- conceit (māna),
- false views (kudṛṣṭi) [diṭṭhi],
- doubt (vicikitsā) [vicikicchā],
- mental torpor (styāna) [thīna],
- restlessness (auddhatya) [uddhacca],
- shamelessness (to do evil) (āhrīkya) [ahirika],
- lack of fear (to do evil) (anotrapya) [anottappa].
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
klēśa (क्लेश).—m (S) Affliction or distress: also pains, labor, trouble. Gen. in pl.
(Source): DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryklēśa (क्लेश).—m Affiction or distress, also pains.
(Source): DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-EnglishMarathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Relevant definitions
Search found 29 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
| Kleshamara | Kleśamāra (क्लेशमार) or simply Kleśa refers to “the defilements destroyer” and represents one o... | |
| Kleshavarana | Kleśāvaraṇa (क्लेशावरण) refers to the “obstacle consisting of the afflictions” and represents o... | |
| Kleshavasana |
Kleśavāsanā (क्लेशवासना):—Anantavarman, a commentator on the Mahāvibhāṣā, defined the ... | |
| Avidya | Avidyā (अविद्या, “ignorance”) refers to the first of the “twelve factors of conditional origina... | |
| Raga | Rāga (राग) refers to one of the 53 gods to be worshipped in the western quarter and given pāyas... | |
| Mana | Māna (मान) is a Prakrit ending for deriving proper personal names, mentioned as an example in t... | |
| Kashaya | Kaṣāya (कषाय, “astringent”) refers to one of the “six kinds of tastes” (rasa) as defined in the... | |
| Mara | Māra (मार) refers to the “four destroyers” as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 80):
... | |
| Marici | Mārīcī (मारीची) refers to the sixth of “seven days” (saptavāra) classified as a dhāraṇī accordi... | |
| Samyama | saṃyama (संयम).—m S saṃyamana n S Binding, restraining, confining. 2 Forbearance, self-denial o... | |
| Chaya | Chāyā (छाया, “shadowy”) refers to one of the “twenty form objects” (rūpa) as defined in the Dha... | |
| Avarana | Āvaraṇa (आवरण, “obstacle”) refers to a set of three obstacles, according to the Mahāprajñāpāram... | |
| Bandhana | Bandhana (बन्धन, “bond”).—According to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 13, there are two other... | |
| Sadhya | sadhyā (सध्या).—ad Now.--- OR --- sādhya (साध्य).—a Achievable; acquirable. That is to be infer... | |
| Kilesa | Kilesa, (and klesa) (from kilissati) 1. stain, soil, impurity, fig. affliction; in a moral sens... |
Relevant text
Search found 24 books and stories containing Klesha, Kleśa or Klesa. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra (by Vimalakirti)
The Great Chariot (by Longchenpa)
Part 1b.1c - The occasion of awareness < [B. The extensive explanation of the nature of karma]
Part 3 - The example of being seduced by desire < [A. The general explanation of the nature of suffering]
Part 1b.1a - The support: The explanation of alaya and consciousness < [B. The extensive explanation of the nature of karma]
The 6th Patriarch Platform Sutra
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Bodhisattva quality 14: skilled in teaching dependent origination < [Chapter X - The Qualities of the Bodhisattvas]
VI. Where the destruction of the traces is located < [VIII. Destroying the traces of the conflicting emotions]
II. Conflicting emptions and the traces of conflicting emotions < [VIII. Destroying the traces of the conflicting emotions]
Śrī Hari-bhakti-kalpa-latikā (by Sarasvati Thkura)
Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.1.233 < [Part 1 - Ecstatic Excitants (vibhāva)]
Verse 1.1.17 < [Part 1 - Qualities of Pure Bhakti (bhagavad-bhakti-bheda)]
Verse 4.5.4 < [Part 5 - Anger (raudra-rasa)]
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