How the mental defilements arise and its consequences
Karma and the mental defilements are both necessary as causes for the creation of cyclic existence, but the afflictions are primary. For, just as a seed without moisture, soil, etc. will not produce a sprout, so in the absence of mental defilements—even though you have accumulated immeasurable karma in the past—there will be no sprout of suffering because the karma lacks the necessary cooperating conditions. A further reason mental defilements are primary is because—even without previously accumulated karma—if mental defilements are present, you immediately accumulate new karma, and that would impel the beings into a cyclic existence of either happy or miserable realms.
When a mental defilement arises, at first it completely afflicts our mind, causing us to err with regard to what we are observing, reinforcing our latent proclivities, and causing the same sort of affliction to recur. It may harm us, others, or both; it leads to misdeeds in this life, in future lives, or in both.
It creates experiences of pain and anguish, as well as the sufferings of birth, and the like. It takes us far from Nirvāna, our virtue is destroyed and our resources are depleted. In society we feel apprehensive, joyless, and devoid of confidence, while our notoriety spreads in all directions, and excellent persons such as teachers and protectors rebuke us. We die with regret, our aims unfulfilled, and after death we are reborn into a miserable realm.
As a buddhist, our final goal is Nirvāna. To go to Nirvāna, the most important fact is to eliminate the mental defilements.
