Raga (Sanskrit term) explained
Raga (Sanskrit: राग, IAST: ; Pali ; Tibetan:) is a Buddhist and Hindu concept of character affliction or poison referring to any form of "greed, sensuality, lust, desire" or "attachment to a sensory object".[1] [2] [3] Raga is represented in the Buddhist artwork (Sanskrit: bhāvacakra) as the bird or rooster. In Hinduism, it is one of the five Kleshas or poisons that afflict the soul. In Buddhism, Raga is identified in the following contexts:[4]
- One of the three poisons within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition
- One of the three unwholesome roots, called lobha, within the Theravada Buddhist tradition
- One of the six root kleshas within the Mahayana Abhidharma teachings
- One of the fourteen unwholesome mental factors, called lobha, within the Theravada Abhidharma teachings
Definitions
literally means 'color or hue' in Sanskrit. In Buddhist texts as a form of blemish, personal impurity or fundamental character affliction.[5] The term Raga also refers to a melodic mode in Indian music.
In Buddhism
As a Buddhist philosophical concept, the term refers to 'greed, sensuality, desire' or 'attachment to a sensory object'. It includes any form of desire including sexual desire and sensual passion, as well as attachments to, excitement over and pleasure derived from objects of the senses.[6] Some scholars render it as 'craving'.[7]
Raga is one of three poisons and afflictions, also called the "threefold fires" in Buddhist Pali canon,[8] that prevents a being from reaching nirvana.[9] [10] To extinguish all raga (greed, lust, desire, attachment) is one of the requirements of nirvana (liberation) in Buddhism.[8]
The Abhidharma-samuccaya states:
What is craving (raga)? It is attachment to the three realms of existence. Its function consists of engendering suffering.[7]
Raga is said to arise from the identification of the self as being separate from everything else.[11] This mis-perception or misunderstanding is referred to as avidya (ignorance).
See also
Sources
- Ajahn Sucitto (2010). Turning the Wheel of Truth: Commentary on the Buddha's First Teaching. Shambhala.
- Goleman, Daniel (2008). Destructive Emotions: A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Bantam. Kindle Edition.
- Guenther, Herbert V. & Leslie S. Kawamura (1975), Mind in Buddhist Psychology: A Translation of Ye-shes rgyal-mtshan's "The Necklace of Clear Understanding" Dharma Publishing. Kindle Edition.
- Kunsang, Erik Pema (translator) (2004). Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 1. North Atlantic Books.
- Leifer, Ron (1997). The Happiness Project. Snow Lion.
- Ringu Tulku (2005). Daring Steps Toward Fearlessness: The Three Vehicles of Tibetan Buddhism, Snow Lion.
External links
Notes and References
- Book: Robert E. Buswell Jr.. Donald S. Lopez Jr.. The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism . 2013. Princeton University Press . 978-1-4008-4805-8 . 59, 68, 589.
- Book: Thomas William Rhys Davids . William Stede . Pali-English Dictionary . 1921. Motilal Banarsidass . 978-81-208-1144-7. 567.
- Book: Damien Keown . A Dictionary of Buddhism . 2004. Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-157917-2. 8, 47, 143.
- Guenther (1975), Kindle Locations 715-718.
- Book: Thomas William Rhys Davids . William Stede . Pali-English Dictionary . 1921. Motilal Banarsidass . 978-81-208-1144-7. 214, 567.
- Book: David Webster . The Philosophy of Desire in the Buddhist Pali Canon . 2005. Routledge . 978-0-415-34652-8 . 100–101 .
- Book: Asaṅga . Walpola Rahula . Sara Boin-Webb. Abhidharmasamuccaya: The Compendium of the Higher Teaching . 2001. Jain Publishing. 978-0-89581-941-3 . 11.
- Book: Frank Hoffman . Deegalle Mahinda . Pali Buddhism . 2013. Routledge . 978-1-136-78553-5 . 106–107.
- Book: David Webster . The Philosophy of Desire in the Buddhist Pali Canon . 2005. Routledge . 978-0-415-34652-8 . 2–3 .
- Book: Thomas William Rhys Davids . William Stede . Pali-English Dictionary . 1921. Motilal Banarsidass . 978-81-208-1144-7. 362.
- Ringu Tulku (2005), p. 29
