Three poisons

In the Buddhist teachings, the three poisons (of ignorance, attachment, and aversion) are the primary causes that keep sentient beings trapped in samsara. These three poisons are said to be the root of all of the other kleshas.Daniel Goleman (2003), pages 106, 111Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen (2010), p. 451.

The three poisons are represented in the hub of the wheel of life as a pig, a bird, and a snake (representing ignorance, attachment, and aversion, respectively). As shown in the wheel of life (Sanskrit: bhavacakra), the three poisons lead to the creation of karma, which leads to rebirth in the six realms of samsara.{{cite book|author=David Webster |title=The Philosophy of Desire in the Buddhist Pali Canon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GLPGFoLED7sC |year=2005|publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-34652-8 |pages=100–105, 177, 236}}Dalai Lama (1992), p. 4, 42

The three wholesome mental factors that are identified as the opposites of the three poisons are:{{sfn|Gethin|1998|p=81}}{{cite book|author=Steven M. Emmanuel|title=A Companion to Buddhist Philosophy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P_lmCgAAQBAJ|year=2015|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-119-14466-3|pages=435–436}}

• amoha (non-delusion) or paññā (wisdom)
• alobha (non-attachment) or dāna (generosity)
• adveṣa (non-hatred) or mettā (loving-kindness)

The Buddhist path considers these essential for liberation.{{sfn|Gethin|1998|p=81}}

The three kleshas of ignorance, attachment and aversion are referred to as the three poisons (Skt. triviṣa; Tibetan: dug gsum) in the Mahayana tradition and as the three unwholesome roots (Pāli, akusala-mūla; Skt. akuśala-mūla) in the Theravada tradition.

The Sanskrit, Pali, and Tibetan terms for each of the three poisons are as follows:

In the Mahayana tradition moha is identified as a subcategory of avidya. Whereas avidya is defined as a fundamental ignorance, moha is defined as delusion, confusion and incorrect beliefs. In the Theravada tradition, moha and avidya are equivalent terms, but they are used in different contexts; moha is used when referring to mental factors, and avidya is used when referring to the twelve links.{{cite book|author1=Robert E. Buswell Jr.|author2=Donald S. Lopez Jr.|title=The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DXN2AAAAQBAJ |year=2013|publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-1-4008-4805-8 |pages=546, 59, 68}}

• Buddhist paths to liberation
• Bhavacakra
• Buddhism and psychology
• Dvesha
• Five hindrances
• Kleshas (Buddhism)
• Karma in Buddhism
• Seven deadly sins
• Taṇhā

{{reflist|2}}

• Dalai Lama (1992). The Meaning of Life, translated and edited by Jeffrey Hopkins, Boston: Wisdom.
• Dzongsar Khyentse (2004). Gentle Voice #22, September 2004 Issue.
• Geshe Sonam Rinchen (2006). How Karma Works: The Twelve Links of Dependent Arising, Snow Lion
• Goleman, Daniel (2003). Destructive Emotions: A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Random House.
• Keown, Damien (2004). A Dictionary of Buddhism. Oxford University Press.
• Lamotte, Étienne (translator). The Treatise on the Great Virtue of Wisdom of Nagarjuna. Gampo Abbey.
• {{Citation| last =Geshe Tashi Tsering | year =2006 | title =Buddhist Psychology: The Foundation of Buddhist Thought, Volume III | publisher =Perseus Books Group, Kindle Edition}}
• {{Citation| last =Gethin | first = Rupert | year =1998 | title =Foundations of Buddhism | publisher =Oxford University Press}}
• Rangjung Yeshe Wiki - Dharma Dictionary. http://rywiki.tsadra.org/index.php/dug_gsum
• Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche (2011). Awakening the Sacred Body: Tibetan Yogas of Breath and Movement. Hay House.
• Trungram Gyaltrul Rinpoche Sherpa (2004). Gampopa, the Monk and the Yogi : His Life and Teachings. Harvard University.

• [http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.069.than.html Access to Insight, Mula Sutta: Roots (AN 3.69 PTS: A i 201)]
• [http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.033.than.html Access to Insight, Nidana Sutta: Causes (AN 3.33 PTS: A i 134 Thai 3.34; BJT 3.34)]

• [https://sourcepointglobaloutreach.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ThreePoisons.pdf Transforming the three poisons]
• [http://rywiki.tsadra.org/index.php/Three_Poisons Three poisons on Ranjung Yeshe wiki]
• [https://tricycle.org/beginners/buddhism/three-jewels-of-buddhism/ What are the three jewels?] [https://tricycle.org/beginners/buddhism Buddhism for Beginners]

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Category:Unwholesome factors in Buddhism