Klesha, Kleśa, Klesa: 28 definitions
Introduction:
Klesha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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.
The Sanskrit term Kleśa can be transliterated into English as Klesa or Klesha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Kleśa (क्लेश) refers to “misery” (e.g., the misery occasioned by penance), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.5.—Accordingly, after Goddess Śivā (i.e., Umā/Durgā) granted a boon to Menā:—“Saying so, the Goddess Śivā vanished from there even as Menā was watching. O dear one, on getting the desired boon from the Goddess, Menā attained immeasurable joy. Her misery occasioned by penance [i.e., tapas-kleśa] vanished. Bowing down in that direction, the chaste lady of delighted mind returned to her abode repeating the benedictory word “Jaya” (be victorious)”.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Kleśa (क्लेश) refers to “suffering”, according to the Haṭhatattvakaumudī, an 18th-century text on Haṭhayoga consisting of fifty-six chapters and approximately 1680 verses.—The Haṭhatattvakaumudī has five chapters on prāṇāyāma (9, 10, 12, 37–38), namely, the preliminary auxiliaries and rules of practice for prāṇāyāma, an explanation of the names, nature and characteristics of kumbhakas, breathing methods for quelling suffering (kleśa-ghna), necessary rules for prāṇāyāma and an explanation of prāṇāyāma, which total more than 240 verses.
Kleśa (क्लेश) refers to “affliction”, according to the Bhāṣya (commentary) on the Pātañjalayogaśāstra (i.e., The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali).—Accordingly: “Yoga is not perfected by one who does not practise Tapas. Impurity, which is of various kinds because of beginningless Karma, affliction (kleśa) and habitual tendencies and because of which the network of sense objects stands opposed [to Yoga], is not weakened without Tapas. Thus, the mention of Tapas [in the root text]”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Kleśa (क्लेश) refers to the “pains” (of Jīvas), as discussed in chapter 12 of the Lakṣmītantra: a Pāñcarātra text comprising some 3600 Sanskrit verses exclusively devoted to Goddess Lakṣmī or Śrī (the consort of Viṣṇu) besides dealing with cosmology and practical regarding Vaishnava priests and temple-building programs.—Description of the chapter [śakti-prakāśa]: Indra wants to know what are the pains [kleśa] of jīva, and how many there are of these? (1-3). [...] As for the kleśas, she appreciates them, as she experiences them according to her pleasure, but being immutable, the answer is that primarily she causes the jīvas to experience kleśa without herself becoming involved. The kleśas are five—tamas, moha, mahāmoha, tāmisra and avidyā (8-12)—and these are explained thus in their inter-relating and casual relationships (13-27).
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
Vedanta (school of philosophy)
Kleśa (क्लेश) refers to “distress” (presented as an undesirable characteristic for those seeking liberation), according to the Aṣṭāvakragītā (5th century BC), an ancient text on spirituality dealing with Advaita-Vedānta topics.—Accordingly, [as Aṣṭavakra says to Janaka]: “Unmoved and undistressed (gata-kleśa), realising that being, non-being and transformation are of the very nature of things, one easily finds peace [nirvikāro gatakleśaḥ sukhenaivopaśāmyati]. At peace, having shed all desires within, and realising that nothing exists here but the Lord, the Creator of all things, one is no longer attached to anything. [...]”.
Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).
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.).
Theravāda 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.
Kleśa (क्लेश) refers to “vices”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] Then again, the Bodhisattva, the great being Gaganagañja uttered these verses to that Bodhisattva, the great being Guṇarājaprabhāsa: ‘(25) [...] The one who never falls back from firm vigour, bravely conquers conceit, the māra, and enemies, and purifies the impurities of vices (kleśa) of oneself and others, I ask the beautiful one (sudarśana) for the sake of them. [...]’”.
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.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Kleśa (क्लेश) (Sanskrit; in Tibetan: nyon mongs) — (lit. “Delusion(s)”) — Also translated as “affliction(s)” or “defilement(s),” these are the fundamental negative factors that, along with karma, serve to keep sentient beings in their samsaric condition and must be uprooted for liberation to occur. Lists of delusions are manifold, and range from the so-called three poisons (ignorance, desire, anger), to the twenty deluded mental factors specified in abhidharma, to symbolically potent but nonspecific references to 84,000 delusions
Kleśa (क्लेश) or Kleśakaṣāya in Sanskrit refers to “the impurity of conflicting emotions” and is known in Tibetan as nyon-mongs-kyi snyigs-ma. It represents one of the “Five Impurities” which are known in Tibetan as snyigs ma lnga. They are defined in the sgyu-'phrul rgya-mtsho of volume 15 of the rnying-ma'i rg.yud-'bum (Collected Tantras of the rNying-ma-pa).—[Cf. the Mahāvyutpatti 2335-2340].
Kleśa (क्लेश) refers to “defilements” (which are cleaned using flowers and water during Pūjā), according to William Stablein’s A Descriptive Analysis of the Content of Nepalese Buddhist Pujas as a Medical-Cultural System (with References to Tibetan Parallels).—The tshog shin (sacred tree) is also mentally visualized.—[Cf. Dīpa]—Another light is used for a special nīrājana [light purification]. A wick is placed in an earthenware dish that contains mustard seeds, which are the standard substance for nullifying forces of bhūta [disease], flowers and water which clean the kleśa [defilments], three balls of rice that designate the dedicating of one’s merits to all sentient beings, and the dish itself, symbolizing the removing of the cover of ignorance. The light is waved in front of the flask where the main divinity is thought to dwell.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
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 (e.g., kleśa). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna 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).
3) Kleśa or Kleśāvaraṇa refers to the “obstruction of defilements” and represents one of the “two obstructions” (āvaraṇa) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 115).
kleśa [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.
klēśa (क्लेश).—m Affiction or distress, also pains.
Marathi 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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Kleśa (क्लेश).—[kliś-bhāve ghañ]
1) Pain, anguish, suffering, distress, trouble; किमात्मा क्लेशस्य पदमुपनीतः (kimātmā kleśasya padamupanītaḥ) Ś.1; क्लेशः फलेन हि पुनर्नवतां विधत्ते (kleśaḥ phalena hi punarnavatāṃ vidhatte) Kumārasambhava 5.86; Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 12.5.
2) Wrath, anger.
3) Care, trouble.
4) Worldly occupation.
5) Sin (in the Buddhist sense); अविद्याऽस्मितारागद्वेषाभिनि (avidyā'smitārāgadveṣābhini)शाः क्लेशाः (śāḥ kleśāḥ) Yoga Sūtra 2.3. अपि च क्लेशान् विहाय मम शत्रुबुद्धिरे (api ca kleśān vihāya mama śatrubuddhire) नान्यत्र (nānyatra) Nāg.3; अनुकम्प्यतामसौ राज्यस्य कृते क्लेशदासीकृतो तपस्वी (anukampyatāmasau rājyasya kṛte kleśadāsīkṛto tapasvī) ibid.
Derivable forms: kleśaḥ (क्लेशः).
Kleśa (क्लेश).—(also semi-MIndic kileśa), m. (= Pali kilesa), impurity, depravity; on relation to anuśaya, q.v., see especially LaVallée Poussin, Abhidharmakośa v.1 note 4; Dharmasaṃgraha 67 six kleśa: rāga, pratigha, māna, avidyā, kudṛṣṭi, vicikitsā; Abhidharmakośa v.2, six anuśaya, same list (for the last two, the synonyms dṛṣṭi, vimati); Kāraṇḍavvūha 80.5, read, katimāḥ ṣaṭ kleśāḥ (no list given); the word is extremely common, but usually vague and undefined; Mahāvyutpatti 862; Lalitavistara 8.18; 11.5; 12.12, etc. etc.; kileśa, Mahāvastu i.299.16 (verse; mss. kilena, em. Senart), and others, § 3.109. A discussion in Burnouf, Lotus, 443 ff.
Kleśa (क्लेश).—m.
(-śaḥ) 1. Pain, affliction or distress. 2. Pain from disease, anguish. Worldly occupation, care, trouble. 4. Wrath, anger. E. kliś to suffer or inflict pain, affix ghañ.
Kleśa (क्लेश).—i. e. kliś + a, m. Pain, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 2, 227.
Kleśa (क्लेश).—[masculine] affliction, pain, distress.
1) Kleśa (क्लेश):—[from kliś] a m. pain, affliction, distress, pain from disease, anguish, [Śvetāśvatara-upaniṣad; Manu-smṛti; Yājñavalkya; Mahābhārata] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] (in Yoga [philosophy] five Kleśas are named, viz. a-vidyā, ‘ignorance’, asmi-tā, ‘egotism’, rāga, ‘desire’, dveṣa, ‘aversion’, and abhiniveśa, ‘tenacity of mundane existence’ [Yoga-sūtra; Prabodha-candrodaya; Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha]; the Buddhists reckon ten, viz. three of the body [murder, theft, adultery], four of speech [lying, slander, abuse, unprofitable conversation], three of the mind [covetousness, malice, scepticism] [Buddhist literature; Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha])
3) [v.s. ...] wrath, anger, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] worldly occupation, care, trouble (= vyavasāya), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) b etc. See √kliś.
Kleśa (क्लेश):—(śaḥ) 1. m. Pain; care; anger.
[Sanskrit to German]
Kleśa (क्लेश) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Kilesa.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Hindi dictionary
Kleśa (क्लेश) [Also spelled klesh]:—(nm) anguish; affliction; pain; misery; ~[kara] painful, irksome; ~[dāyaka/dāyī] painful, troublesome, imparting misery.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Klēśa (ಕ್ಲೇಶ):—
1) [noun] great suffering, as from worry, grief or pain; agony; anguish.
2) [noun] (phil.) any of the five types of obstacles that cause anguish (they being ignorance, self-conceit; passion, hatred, and instinctive clinging to worldly life).
3) [noun] intense anger; rage; fury; wrath.
4) [noun] the quality or fact of being thoughtful, cautious or guarded.
5) [noun] worldly occupation; mundane affairs.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Kleśa (क्लेश):—n. 1. pain; anguish; suffering; trauma; 2. strife; quarrelling;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: S, The, The, Klesha, Te.
Starts with (+19): Kleshabhagin, Kleshabhaj, Kleshada, Kleshadana, Kleshadhatu, Kleshaghna, Kleshaghni, Kleshagol, Kleshajneya, Kleshaka, Kleshakala, Kleshakara, Kleshakarin, Kleshakashaya, Kleshakshama, Kleshamara, Kleshamula, Kleshanashana, Kleshanga, Kleshapaha.
Full-text (+290): Pariklesa, Kayaklesha, Aklesha, Utklesha, Samklesha, Kleshapaha, Garbhaklesha, Kleshaprahana, Kleshamara, Pancaklesha, Nishklesha, Viklesha, Cittaklesha, Kleshakshama, Kleshavarana, Kleshabhaj, Upakkilesa, Kleshada, Kleshabhagin, Kleshanashana.
Relevant text
Search found 128 books and stories containing Klesha, Klēśa, Kleśa, Klesa, The kleshas, Klesas, Klesa s; (plurals include: Kleshas, Klēśas, Kleśas, Klesas, The kleshases, Klesases, Klesa ses). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Great Chariot (by Longchenpa)
Part 1b.1a - The support: The explanation of alaya and consciousness < [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]
A. The teaching of the establishment of the kayas and wisdoms, by completing the path < [Chapter XIII - The Fruition, the Great Self-existence]
Abhidharmakośa (by Leo M. Pruden)
Jainism and Patanjali Yoga (Comparative Study) (by Deepak bagadia)
Part 12 - Similarities and differences of both the Philosophies in Nutshell < [Chapter 4 - A Comparative Study]
Part 4.7.2 - Yogic (Spiritual) Remedies < [Chapter 2 - Yoga philosophy and practices]
Part 10 - Afflictions: Avidya v/s Mithyattva < [Chapter 4 - A Comparative Study]
Yoga-sutras (Ancient and Modern Interpretations) (by Makarand Gopal Newalkar)
Sūtra 2.4 [Avidyā—ignorance] < [Book II - Sādhana-pāda]
Sūtra 2.1-2 [Kriyāyoga] < [Book II - Sādhana-pāda]
Sūtra 2.3 [Kleśas] < [Book II - Sādhana-pāda]
Hevajra Tantra (analytical study) (by Seung Ho Nam)
1.3. (ii) The Intrinsic Pure Mind and the Accidental defilements < [Chapter 3 - Tantric Doctrine in Hevajra Tantra]
2.3. Internal Initiation < [Chapter 3 - Tantric Doctrine in Hevajra Tantra]
1.3. (iv) The Undifferentiated Suchness < [Chapter 3 - Tantric Doctrine in Hevajra Tantra]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Bodhisattva quality 28: excelled in destroying various wrong views < [Chapter XIII - The Buddha-fields]
Preliminary note on destroying the traces of the conflicting emotions < [VIII. Destroying the traces of the conflicting emotions]
Bhūmi 10: the ground of the cloud of the Dharma (dharmameghā) < [Chapter XX - (2nd series): Setting out on the Mahāyāna]
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