On Denying Defilement (long extract)

"The general Western resistance to the concept of defilement is a serious obstacle to reaching the end of suffering and stress and to reaping the benefits of the practice along the way. In light of the first two facts — that defilement is a quality of actions measured by the extent to which they cause affliction — an unwillingness to accept the idea of defilement translates into an unwillingness to examine your own actions to see if they cause harm. This is a form of narcissism that makes it impossible to see the connection between the second and first noble truths. If you refuse to accept the idea that your thoughts, words, and deeds cause suffering, you won’t be able to see the sources of suffering coming from within the mind.

In light of the third fact — that the brightness of the mind is its ability to recognize defilement and do something about it — an unwillingness to accept the idea of defilement translates into a willed ignorance around one’s own actions and their effects. This is a form of repression that stands in the way of developing the fourth noble truth. In other words, resistance to the idea of defilement is itself a defilement — delusion — that compounds the darkness of other defilements and protects them so that they can continue to flourish and grow.

The further fact that resistance to the idea of defilement is a form of narcissistic repression turns the tables on the argument drawn from modern Western psychology that the idea of mental defilement is unhealthy, for even in the vocabulary of modern psychology, narcissism and repression are recognized as unhealthy states. Any sense of self-esteem based on narcissism and repression is dangerous and deluded, whereas the Buddha’s teaching on defilement offers a way to develop healthy self-esteem. This way is based both on healthy self-criticism — the inner critic isn’t always bad — and a habit worthy of esteem: the willingness to learn from your mistakes. To follow the Buddha’s way also develops the healthy confidence that comes from seeing your behavior improve as a result. This form of self-esteem and confidence is good not only for you, but also for all people affected by your actions.

As for the Western cultural arguments against the teaching on defilement, the Buddha’s instructions to Rāhula show that those arguments are all beside the point. Because his teaching on defilement doesn’t deal with the innate nature of the mind, it’s in no way related to the idea of original sin. Because it points to the fact that greed, passion, aversion, and delusion cause affliction, it calls into question the Romantic/Transcendentalist notion that these natural and normal tendencies can be trusted as divinely inspired. And because it explains why the mind can train itself to end its self-induced afflictions by learning to question them, the teaching on defilement is not an attempt at gaining control over anyone. It’s meant to empower you and give you control over yourself.

In fact, the Buddha’s teaching on defilement is one of the most effective strategies for freeing the mind from the influences of mass marketing and other modern methods of thought-control. When you learn to recognize your greed, aversion, and delusion as defilements and are able to free yourself from their influence, no one can pander to them in an attempt to control your thoughts and actions. A mind without defilement is liberated not only from its own unskillful influences, but also from the unskillful agendas — and defilements — of anyone else.

So even though the narcissistic repression of the idea of defilement is a pervasive darkness in modern Western society, it’s not inescapable. Because it’s a defilement, it’s an incoming visitor. As a visitor it’s not unreal, but it is unnecessary. When you decide that it’s outstayed its welcome, you can usher it to the door. You can then begin working on making the mind fully pure.

This is because the mind’s potential for brightness — its ability to recognize the harm caused by its actions and to stop causing harm — is always there. Simply apply that brightness to any mental action that attempts to deny the fact of defilement. When you see the harm caused by that action, along with the fact that it’s optional, then you’re that much closer to being rid of it and all the other defilements it’s been protecting. Then keep on following that brightness until it leads you to the even greater clarity that comes with total freedom from suffering and stress. When you’ve reached the pure clarity of that freedom, you’ll see that the greed, aversion, and delusion that obscured it really were defilements, for you’re now in a position to know what genuine purity really is."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "On Denying Defilement"

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