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    Buddhism's Three Poisons and Ten Defilements

    29 min
    |
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    Jan 30, 2026
    PhilosophySpiritualityPsychology

    Explore the three unwholesome roots (lobha/greed, dosa/hatred, moha/delusion) that cause suffering in Buddhist philosophy, plus the complete set of ten mental defilements they generate and how to overcome them.

    Buddhism's Three Poisons and Ten Defilements

    Best quote from Buddhism's Three Poisons and Ten Defilements

    “

    The Buddha's diagnosis of greed, hatred, and delusion as the root causes of suffering gives us a framework for understanding both our private struggles and our collective predicaments. For the human race to flourish in the global age, the inescapable challenge facing us is that of coming to understand and transform ourselves.

    ”

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    Please help me learn about the three unwholesome roots from Buddhism. Also the full list of 10 defilements. Use pali and English for the terms.

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    Part of a Learning Plan

    Master Heart Sutra
    LEARNING PLAN

    Master Heart Sutra

    5 h 4 m•4 Episodes
    the history and philosophy of zen
    LEARNING PLAN

    the history and philosophy of zen

    3 h 37 m•4 Episodes

    Key Takeaways

    1

    The Three Poisons Within Us

    0:00
    0:15
    0:33
    0:38
    0:56
    1:04
    1:24
    1:30
    2

    The Root of All Suffering

    1:48
    2:03
    0:38
    2:23
    2:31
    2:50
    2:56
    3:09
    3:14
    3:32
    3:37
    3:49
    3:50
    4:07
    0:38
    3

    The Complete Catalog of Mental Poisons

    4:30
    4:40
    4:52
    4:56
    5:10
    5:15
    5:29
    5:31
    5:45
    5:48
    6:02
    6:08
    6:28
    6:33
    6:45
    6:53
    7:12
    7:18
    4

    How Defilements Hijack Our Lives

    7:32
    7:41
    7:50
    7:52
    8:07
    8:11
    8:27
    8:30
    8:45
    6:33
    9:06
    9:17
    9:24
    9:39
    9:43
    10:01
    6:33
    5

    The Positive Flip Side

    10:23
    3:14
    10:49
    0:38
    11:09
    9:24
    11:32
    11:33
    11:52
    11:58
    12:07
    12:15
    12:28
    12:30
    12:48
    6:33
    6

    The Global Dimension

    13:06
    13:17
    3:49
    13:32
    13:46
    9:24
    14:03
    14:06
    14:21
    0:38
    14:43
    14:48
    15:04
    15:07
    15:18
    0:38
    15:45
    15:53
    7

    The Neuroscience Connection

    16:05
    16:15
    16:26
    16:27
    16:42
    16:43
    16:57
    6:33
    17:14
    9:24
    17:35
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    17:54
    0:38
    18:19
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    18:39
    18:48
    8

    Breaking Free From Ancient Patterns

    19:02
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    19:27
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    19:42
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    20:18
    20:21
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    0:38
    21:50
    21:55
    9

    Your Personal Practice Playbook

    22:06
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    22:53
    9:24
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    0:38
    23:40
    23:42
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    6:33
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    24:32
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    25:16
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    10

    The Ripple Effect of Inner Freedom

    25:48
    26:04
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    27:29
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