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Klesha

World Religion
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Mental afflictions or defilements in Buddhism—such as greed, hatred, and delusion—that obscure wisdom and cause suffering.

Detailed Definition
Kleshas are the root of samsara, binding beings to cyclic existence. In poetry, they are depicted as storms, thorns, or veils that cloud the mind’s natural clarity. Poets portray the path as a gradual purification of kleshas through mindfulness and compassion, turning inner turmoil into stillness.
Example
Example in poetry:
A Buddhist poem lists the kleshas: “Greed, hatred, delusion—the three poisons staining the lotus”; In a modern verse, “My klesha is not anger—it’s the story I tell myself to justify it”; A meditation lyric: “Each klesha is a wave—ride it, don’t drown”; A student’s note: “Kleshas aren’t enemies—they’re teachers in disguise.”
Additional Notes
Kleshas are the root poisons that fuel the cycle of Samsara. The three primary kleshas are greed (raga), hatred (dvesha), and delusion (moha), often expanded to five to include pride and envy. They are the underlying causes of all suffering (Dukkha) and karma. In literature, kleshas are the fundamental drivers of conflict and tragedy, representing the inner demons that characters must confront and overcome.
Also Known As
Klesa Defilement Affliction Poison
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