Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
156. The Meaning of Ordinary Beings (continued 6/6)
The so-called 108 afflictions refer to the number of mental defilements, traditionally counted as 108. There are different ways to arrive at this number. One method begins with the six sense faculties—eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind—each of which experiences three types of sensations: pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral. This results in 18 types of sensations in total.
Furthermore, each of the six faculties also gives rise to three kinds of emotional responses: like, dislike, and indifference. This brings the count to 36. Since these 36 reactions occur across the three time periods—past, present, and future—they total 108 afflictions.
In addition to these 108, afflictions are also said to number 84,000, signifying their vast and pervasive nature. Depending on their function, afflictions are also referred to by various names, such as latent tendencies, delusions, defilements, leaks, fetters, and bonds.
In essence, these afflictions keep sentient beings trapped in a deluded state, obstructing the path to enlightenment. As long as these defilements are not completely eradicated, one cannot escape the cycle of rebirth (samsara) or attain awakening.
Therefore, the core of Buddhist practices are meant to eliminate these afflictions. In Theravāda (or “Hinayana”) Buddhism, this is discussed in terms of defilements eliminated during the path of seeing and the path of cultivation. In Mahayana Buddhism, the focus is on whether afflictions are cut off suddenly (sudden elimination) or gradually (gradual elimination).
156 凡夫的意義 (續 6/6)
所謂百八煩惱，是煩惱的數量算起來有百八。關於此計算方式有不同的 說法，其一，人的六根（眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意的六種感覺器官）各有苦、樂、 捨（不苦不樂）的三種作用（受業），共計為十八的數量。
又，六種感覺器官也各有好、惡、平（無好無惡）的三種感情，所以合為 三十六。因為此三十六種感覺器官的作用橫亙過去、現在、未來三世，所以總 計為百八的數量。此外，又說為八萬四千煩惱，說明此煩惱非常多。又根據煩 惱的作用，也可稱其為隨眠、惑、染、漏、結、纏等。
總之，這些煩惱使得眾生住於迷妄的世界，障害向證悟前進的正道。所以 ，只要這些煩惱沒有完全斷滅，就不能脫離輪迴，達到證悟。因此，佛教修行 的中心是在於如何斷除煩惱。小乘佛教論見道所斷、修道所斷，大乘佛教則 論頓斷、漸斷。
Namo Amituofo!
