Definition: “Outflows” ?

Discuss and learn about the traditional Mahayana scriptures, without assuming that any one school ‘owns’ the only correct interpretation.
Post Reply
User avatar
PadmaVonSamba
Posts: 9441
Joined: Sat May 14, 2011 1:41 am

Definition: “Outflows” ?

Post by PadmaVonSamba »

In various texts, the term “outflows” is used, such as the Buddha or his disciples being free from outflows.

I know that finding the right word in English to translate a concept from Sanskrit can be a challenge, but the meaning of this one is really unclear to me.

What does the term refer to,
and what specifically isn’t “flowing out” ?
EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
Malcolm
Posts: 42974
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2010 2:19 am

Re: Definition: “Outflows” ?

Post by Malcolm »

PadmaVonSamba wrote: Tue Jan 05, 2021 2:17 pm In various texts, the term “outflows” is used, such as the Buddha or his disciples being free from outflows.

I know that finding the right word in English to translate a concept from Sanskrit can be a challenge, but the meaning of this one is really unclear to me.

What does the term refer to,
and what specifically isn’t “flowing out” ?
In Theravada, they usually translate this as cankers. It refers to a state of affliction, which is like a weeping sore.

In Tibetan, asrava is translated as zag bcas, “with effluents”
User avatar
kirtu
Former staff member
Posts: 6997
Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 5:29 pm
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: Definition: “Outflows” ?

Post by kirtu »

Dictionary Definition :
Definition[1] :
āśrava



(Sanskrit, outflow; Pāli, āsava). A group of basic impurities or defilements which are the cause of repeated rebirth. There is an original list of three in Pāli sources, namely sense-desires (kāmāsava), the desire for continued existence (bhavāsava), and wrong views (diṭṭhāsava). These are sometime supplemented by a fourth, namely ignorance of the truth (avijjāsava). The āśravas summarize the cognitive and affective impediments to the state of full perfection, and their destruction (āsavakkhaya) is equated with the attainment of Arhatship (see Arhat). In Pāli sources the four āsavas are also referred to by the alternative designation of ‘floods’ (ogha).

Source : A Dictionary of Buddhism, Oxford University Press, 2003, 2004 (which is available in electronic version from answer.com)
Definition[2] :
āsrava[āsava] cankers, outflows and influxes. The three āsrava-s are sensuous desire (kāmāsrava), existence (bhavāsrava), and ignorance (avidyāsrava). The outflow of wrong views (dṛṣṭi-āsrava) is added to the list. These four āsrava-s are mentioned as floods (ogha) and yokes (yoga). In the Buddhist context, here yoga refers to that which binds a human being to saṃsāra as against the Hindu connotation of uniting with the Ultimate Reality. The outflow of wrong views is extinguished when one enters the path or stream. When one enters the path of non-return, the outflow of sensuous desire is extinguished. When one enters the path of an Arhat and attains the state of an Arhat the outflow of existence and ignorance are extinguished. The epithet kṣīṇāsrava, namely, one whose outflows are uprooted is used for an Arhat.

Source : Buddhānusmṛti - A Glossary of Buddhist Terms
Page : AS. III. 498-501. CMA. VIII. 265. DN. Mahāparinibbāna, Sāmaññaphala, Saṅgīti, Soṇadaṇḍa. MN. Bhayabherava, Dvedhāvitakka, Mahāsaccka, Sabbāsava, Sallekha, Sammādiṭṭhi. SN. Āsava, Āsavapañhā, Bhikkhu, Saṃyojanappahānādi, Virāga.
Definition[3] :
āsrava: Outflow, a synonym of kleśa.

Source : Sarvastivada Abhidharma, Sanskrit-English Glossary, by Bhikkhu KL Dhammajoti
Related : āsrava-kṣaya , āsrava-kṣaya-jñāna , āsravakṣaya-jñāna , āśravakṣayabalam , āsravakṣayajñānabalam , aśrāta , asrarodhinī , asrārjaka , asrapitta , asraphalā
https://www.buddhistdoor.net/dictionary/details/asrava
“Where do atomic bombs come from?”
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”

"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
User avatar
Astus
Former staff member
Posts: 8883
Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:22 pm
Location: Budapest

Re: Definition: “Outflows” ?

Post by Astus »

PadmaVonSamba wrote: Tue Jan 05, 2021 2:17 pmIn various texts, the term “outflows” is used, such as the Buddha or his disciples being free from outflows.
Āsrava is a wonderful word, signifying how one mentally/emotionally is moved toward various objects, and how such things (in particular: sensuality/kāma, becoming/bhava, ignorance/avidyā, and views/dṛṣṭi) in-fluence one's mind (see e.g. AKB 5.35-36).
1 Myriad dharmas are only mind.
Mind is unobtainable.
What is there to seek?

2 If the Buddha-Nature is seen,
there will be no seeing of a nature in any thing.

3 Neither cultivation nor seated meditation —
this is the pure Chan of Tathagata.

4 With sudden enlightenment to Tathagata Chan,
the six paramitas and myriad means
are complete within that essence.


1 Huangbo, T2012Ap381c1 2 Nirvana Sutra, T374p521b3; tr. Yamamoto 3 Mazu, X1321p3b23; tr. J. Jia 4 Yongjia, T2014p395c14; tr. from "The Sword of Wisdom"
Post Reply

Return to “Sūtra Studies”