Korea Journal of Buddhist Studies ISSN:1598-0642(Print) 불교학연구

This paper is a study on cessation of the three defilements (rāga/lobha: greed, dosa/paṭigha: hatred, and moha: delusion), which is the heart of practicing good in Buddhist virtue ethics. The paper examines the negative dispositions of the three, their similar concepts, their roles in distinguishing actions or good and bad, and the methods of ceasing them.Greed is the mind not satisfying in sensual desire/pleasure, hatred is the mind creating dislike or anger arising from the desperation of not obtaining pleasure, and delusion is the mind not knowing on the Buddhist truth and being deluded. The three defilements are an activity of the mind; the fundamental thing they share is delusion. Their representative similar concepts are thirst (taṇhā), influx (āsava), attachment (upādāna), binding (yoga), hindrance (nīvaraṇa), fetters (saṁyojana), and latent tendencies (anusaya).The three defilements are the criteria distinguishing all actions for good and bad. All actions are divided into defiled and non-defiled actions, and the good and bad of actions are decided by the presence and absence of the three. The desirable direction in acting is to cease the three. The heart of Buddhist virtue ethics or the Buddhist practice and the achievement of freedom (nibbāna) is to cultivate a disposition being free of the three.This paper reveals the four methods to cease the three defilements excluding the Way and mindfulness.1) Controlling the three defilements and repeating non-defiled thoughts: Cultivating a mind-tendency by controlling the three defiled thoughts intentionally and repeating non-defiled thoughts.2) Seeing the impure nature of things, loving-kindness, cultivating wisdom: Ceasing the three defilements by seeing impure things, by generating a mind of loving-kindness, and by seeing things as impermanent.3) Protecting the six sensual functions (ceasing the six doors): Keeping the mind from the arrival of the three by watching, restraining, and controlling the six sensual functions.4) Properly seeing the nature of the three sensations: Ceasing the three defilements followed by the three sensations by correctly seeing the nature of pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral sensations.This study is significant because it is a systematic examination on ceasing the three defilements, which is at the heart of Buddhism and Buddhist virtue ethics as well. However, this study also expects critical studies on the same issue to continue on a much deeper level.