defilements
Acts of polluting
Defilements are things that make something impure, corrupt, or unclean.
The word appears most often in religious or moral contexts, where defilements are sins, corruptions, or spiritual contaminations that taint the soul or sacred objects: Buddhist practice aims to eliminate the three defilements of greed, hatred, and delusion.
Physical defilements—stains, pollutants, desecrations—are less common in modern usage.
Violation of the hallowed
- profanationViolation of sanctity
- blasphemyIrreverence toward the sacred
- violationBreaking of rules
- vandalismWillful property damage
defacement · dishonor · irreverence · iconoclasm · spoliation · degradation · disrespect · debasement
Harmful biological substances
- pathogensDisease-causing microorganisms
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- germsMicroscopic disease agents
- virusesSubmicroscopic infectious particles
contagion · infection · pollutants · impurities · adulterants · residues · hazardous waste · chemical spills
Connection or fondness
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
- greedExcessive desire for wealth
- hatredIntense hostile aversion
- ignoranceAbsence of knowledge
ego · avarice · envy · pride · sloth · wrath · gluttony · lust
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- extortionObtaining through threats
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
graft · nepotism · cronyism · malfeasance · misconduct · profiteering · racketeering · collusion
Sunlight-activated urban pollution
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- particulatesMinute airborne solids or droplets
- acid rainPolluted atmospheric moisture falling
- greenhouse gasesEmissions that trap heat
industrial waste · exhaust fumes · pesticides · eutrophication · oil spill · landfill · carbon footprint · nitrogen oxides
sacrilege
Violation of the hallowed
- profanationViolation of sanctity
- blasphemyIrreverence toward the sacred
- violationBreaking of rules
vandalism · defacement · dishonor · irreverence · iconoclasm · spoliation · degradation · disrespect · debasement · mockery
toxins
Harmful biological substances
- pathogensDisease-causing microorganisms
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- germsMicroscopic disease agents
viruses · contagion · infection · pollutants · impurities · adulterants · residues · hazardous waste · chemical spills · sewage
attachment
Connection or fondness
ignorance · ego · avarice · envy · pride · sloth · wrath · gluttony · lust · clinging
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- extortionObtaining through threats
kickbacks · graft · nepotism · cronyism · malfeasance · misconduct · profiteering · racketeering · collusion · scandal
smog
Sunlight-activated urban pollution
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- particulatesMinute airborne solids or droplets
- acid rainPolluted atmospheric moisture falling
greenhouse gases · industrial waste · exhaust fumes · pesticides · eutrophication · oil spill · landfill · carbon footprint · nitrogen oxides · sulfur dioxide
- meditationbreathing meditation, breath, breath meditation, mantra, breathing
- mental statesknowledge, conscious, mood, anxious, memory
- BuddhismBuddha, dharma wheel, Four Noble Truths, nirvana, dharma
- AbhidharmaAbhidhamma Pitaka, Buddhaghosa, dharmas, triads, couplets
- Buddhist Patheightfold path, middle way, noble path, bodhisattva, fruition
- Pali CanonAbhidhamma Pitaka, Vinaya
defilementspurifications
Removal of contaminants
cleansings · purities · cleanliness · immaculateness · sanitizations
defilementssanctifications
Acts of making sacred
virtues · holiness · blessings · righteousness · graces
defilementsconsecrations
Acts of making holy
sanctifications · hallowing · blessings · dedications · glorifications