‹ Back to the text

upakkilesaṁ

upakkilesa

accusative singular masculine of upakkilesa (noun)

1. minor defilement
2. subtle blemish or imperfection
3. secondary corruptions of the mind

Built from

• upa — prefix · near, close
  Approach and intimate proximity: what lies right alongside the path of practice. Cognates: Greek hypo-, Latin sub-, English up.
• kilesa — root · defilement, affliction
  Mental corruption or blemish; the five hindrances and other obstructions to jhāna and insight. Related to Sanskrit kilbiṣa (guilt, transgression).

Analysis. upa- (near, alongside) + kilesa (defilement, corruption) — a defilement that approaches or clings close to the practice, less gross than major defilements but still obstructing clarity.

Etymology. From upa- (near, intimate) and kilesa (mental afflictions, corruption), cognate with Sanskrit kilbiṣa (guilt, transgression). The prefix upa- keeps its sense of close-up proximity: minor defilements that lurk near the threshold of awareness.

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

Lite mode — plain HTML for e-readers and old browsers. Full version