汚れ
Defilement
2025-06-10
In Buddhism, what is referred to as “defilement” signifies the disturbances and agitations that arise from the afflictions.
Regarding this, the following principles can be found in the early Buddhist scriptures spoken by the Buddha:
1032 Ajita asked, “What is the world veiled by? What does it makes the world not shine? What defiles the world? What is the world’s greatest fear? Please explain this to me.”
1033 The Blessed One (the Buddha) answered: “Ajita, the world is veiled by ignorance. It fails to shine because of greed and sloth. Desire is the defilement of the world. Suffering is the world’s great fear—
this is what I teach.” (The Words of the Buddha – Sutta Nipāta, Chapter 5: The Way to the Beyond, Section 2: Questions of the Student Ajita, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
4 Seeing the afflictions that exist in the world and knowing the undefiled truth, the sage does not delight in evil. The wicked do not take joy in what is pure. (Udānavarga, Chapter 28: Evil, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
5 Those who have completely destroyed defilements should be understood as “conquerors,” just like me. I have triumphed over all that is evil. Therefore, I am the victorious one, Upaka. (Udānavarga, Chapter 21: The Tathāgata, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
268 Though one is exposed to worldly matters, if one’s mind remains unshaken, free from sorrow,
free from defilements, and at peace—this is supreme happiness. (The Words of the Buddha – Sutta Nipāta, Chapter 1: The Snake Chapter, Section 4: Supreme Happiness, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
In this verse (268), it is taught what happens when one is free from defilements: namely, one abides in peace—which is none other than Nirvāṇan itself.
Therefore, it is also taught as follows:
271, 272 I have attained the bliss of renunciation—a bliss inaccessible to ordinary people. This cannot be gained by mere adherence to precepts, nor by scholarly learning, nor even by practicing meditation,
nor by dwelling alone in solitude. O monks, unless defilements are entirely extinguished, you must not grow complacent. (The Words of the Buddha – Dhammapada, Chapter 19: The Practitioner of the Path, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko)
Naturally, ordinary people (sentient beings) are unaware of the true nature of defilements, and they likely do not even recognize their own defilements.
Nevertheless, it can be said that precisely because of these defilements, they do not abide in the state of inner tranquility.
It is the truly wise who realize this truth, who aspire to the extinction of these defilements, accumulate merit, and ultimately arrive at the supreme state attainable by human beings.
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