Samsara The āsavas are mental defilements that perpetuate
samsara, the beginningless cycle of rebirth,
dukkha, and dying again. Carr and Mahalingam: Bhikkhu Bodhi: De Silva further explains: The word canker suggests something that corrodes or corrupts slowly. These figurative meanings perhaps describe facets of the concept of
āsava: kept long in storage, oozing out, taint, corroding, etc.
Number of āsavas Some Pali canons mention three
āsava that sustain karmic flow. These three mentioned in the Nikāyas are "karmic propensities for sensual pleasures (
kāmāsava), karmic propensities for existence (
bhavāsava), and karmic propensities for ignorance (
avijjāsava)". Other Pali texts mention four
āsava, adding
diṭṭhāsava or "karmic propensities for a viewpoint or perspective". In either case, these texts assert that the complete destruction of all these asavas is synonymous with complete Awakening.
Liberation According to Rhys Davids & Stede (1921–25), "Freedom from the 'Āsavas' constitutes
Arahantship." According to Bhikkhu Bodhi, ==Textual appearance==