BEGINNER’S MIND

BUDDHISM BY THE NUMBERS

THE 5 KLESHAS

ACCORDING TO BUDDHISM, our basic problem is not sin. It’s more like a giant mistake. Because we misunderstand the true nature of ourselves and what we experience, we create poisons that cause ourselves and others endless suffering. These are the many unskillful and unwholesome ways we act in order to protect and serve our false sense of self, or ego.

One classification of these poisons is the five , which is variously translated as poisons, conflicting emotions, defilements, etc. They consist of the three root poisons that drive all