Defilements of Man - Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya

There are three stages of defilements of mind. By defilements we mean the unwholesome states of mind such as lust, anger and so on. We know from our experience that we feel that those defilements are not always manifest in our heart. But there is potentiality that they may rise up within us at times. This state of their potentiality is called the dormant stage of defilements. Suppose a man comes to your presence and starts abusing you calling names. Certainly you might get shocked and angry, though you do not say or do nothing to him. Though you keep silent, there might be anger risen within you. This is the second stage, the stage of up risen defilements. At times, on such an occasion, you might grow so rough that you could not control your anger and you would translate it into action by scolding him or by beating him. This is the third and worst stage of defilements, at which your anger is put to action. It is when the mental defilements surge up to this third stage that man would commit crimes of various sorts.

The purpose of following the path pointed out by the Lord Buddha is to curb and dispel these defilements and to purge one’s mind of all those unwholesome characteristics.

Let us see how we should start this process of self-purification. The dormant stage of defilements is not easy to handle at the start as it is very subtle. The second stage, the stage of manifestation of passions in heart though less subtle than the first one, is, too, not easy to handle as they work only within the heart. The third stage of defilements, as which one commits evil deeds is evident to everybody, and , so it is at this stage we should start our religious practice. In every walk of life we should proceed guided by proper understanding and being ever mindful. Thus, we have to use our reason and understand the contemptibility and evil effects of doing wrong deeds and determine to abstain from committing them. By following this way, we will be able to control our mind and curb our temper so far that we may not transgress the laws of morality.

Courtesy: Buddhism-Lectures and Essays The Corporate Body of Buddha Educational Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan.

© "Dhamma" (May 2002) published by Buddha Vachana Trust, 14, Kalidasa Road, Gandhinagar, Bangalore 560 009. Website: www.mbodhi.com. Reprinted with permission.

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