Āsavas
Influences, Corrupting Influences

The word 'āsavas' has given translators no end of trouble and is surely an Āsava.

Āsava. From "a sru" 'to flow out.' Which I believe should be read in the simplest possible way as 'in-fluence'.

There is more than one group of Āsava's, and the definition of the term should not be derived from only one.

A tree-stump in one's path at night, or a vicious dog, is an āsava, but hardly 'A Canker' (Hare, Horner), 'taint' (Bhks. Bodhi, Nanamoli), 'intoxicant' (Rhys Davids) 'fermentation' (Bhk. Thanissaro), 'corruption' (Walshe).

I have been using 'corrupting influences', but better for inclusion of all that is covered by the term would be 'disrupting influences.'

Other possibilities: 'eruptions,' 'interruptions'.

'For the Buddhist interested in becoming an arahant, the āsavas' are: sensual pleasures, existence (or living, or being, or becoming), blindness, and views.'

'Views' is a later addition and is incorporated in 'blindness.'

Arahantship is attained when 'The āsava's' are thoroughly extirpated, uprooted, destroyed and yield no more secondary associations (reactions).