A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
by porpoise » Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:24 pm
In MN9 ( see extract below ) the taints are desribed as sensual desire, being and ignorance. But what is the taint of being?
"And what are the taints, what is the origin of the taints, what is the cessation of the taints, what is the way leading to the cessation of the taints? There are three taints: the taint of sensual desire, the taint of being and the taint of ignorance. With the arising of ignorance there is the arising of the taints. With the cessation of ignorance there is the cessation of the taints."
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porpoise
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by Ñāṇa » Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:37 pm
porpoise wrote:In MN9 ( see extract below ) the taints are desribed as sensual desire, being and ignorance. But what is the taint of being?
It's referring to the
āsava of existence (bhavāsava). It's related to craving existence (bhavataṇhā). IIRC the commentaries correlate it with passion for existence in the form realms (i.e. rūparāga), but I'd have to look that up to be sure.
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Ñāṇa
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by porpoise » Sat Dec 15, 2012 2:33 pm
Ñāṇa wrote:porpoise wrote:In MN9 ( see extract below ) the taints are desribed as sensual desire, being and ignorance. But what is the taint of being?
It's referring to the
āsava of existence (bhavāsava). It's related to craving existence (bhavataṇhā). IIRC the commentaries correlate it with passion for existence in the form realms (i.e. rūparāga), but I'd have to look that up to be sure.
Yes, thanks. I was trying to work out what craving existence means in practice - is it analogous to what we'd call "survival instinct"?
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porpoise
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