Grammatical Analysis
Āsava: [m.] influx; taint; canker; corruption; fermentation. Derived from prefix ā (towards, up to) + root su (to flow, exude, ferment). The commentaries explain it as toxic substances that flow out from the mind, or intoxicating liquors that have fermented for a long time.
Orthodox Definition
The Āsavas are the deepest, most deeply ingrained toxic defilements that continuously “flow” out of the untrained mind, intoxicating beings and keeping them bound to saṃsāra. The absolute destruction of these taints (āsavakkhaya) is the exact definition of Arahatship.
The texts traditionally identify four specific āsavas:
- Kāmāsava: The taint of sensual desire (attachment to the five sense objects).
- Bhavāsava: The taint of existence (attachment to rebirth in form or formless realms).
- Diṭṭhāsava: The taint of wrong views (false philosophical and religious beliefs).
- Avijjāsava: The taint of foundational ignorance (blindness to the Four Noble Truths).
Because they act like deep-seated cognitive ferments, they require the ultimate analytical purification of supramundane wisdom (lokuttara-paññā) to be fully neutralized.
Textual References
- Sutta: Sabbāsava Sutta (MN 2) – The Buddha’s masterclass on the seven specific methods for abandoning the influxes (by seeing, restraining, using, enduring, avoiding, removing, and developing).
- Abhidhamma: Dhammasaṅgaṇī (Āsava-gocchaka division).
- Commentary: Papañcasūdanī – Detailed mapping of how each influx is destroyed by specific stages of awakening.