➥ pariḷāha:

• for pariḷāha:
  • passion
  • anguish
  • [sensuous] passion

Passion and anguish: associated with burning

Pariḷāha means passion or anguish. Both are associated with torment:

• tormented by sensuous passion

kāmapariḷāhena pariḍayhamānā. (MN i 508)

• they are tormented by the anguish of birth

jātipariḷāhena pi pariḍayhanti. (SN v 451)

Anguish stems from rāga, dosa, and moha

• Being tormented by the anguish born of attachment he would sleep badly

rāgajehi pariḷāhehi pariḍayhamāno dukkhaṁ sayeyyāti

• Being tormented by the anguish born of hatred he would sleep badly

dosajehi pariḷāhehi pariḍayhamāno dukkhaṁ sayeyyāti

• Being tormented by the anguish born of undiscernment of reality he would sleep badly

mohajehi pariḷāhehi pariḍayhamāno dukkhaṁ sayeyyāti. (AN i 137)

Bad passions

Bad passions are:

• sensuous passion kāmapariḷāho
• unbenevolent passion vyāpādapariḷāho
• malicious passion vihiṁsāpariḷāho

These lead to sensuous, unbenevolent and malicious quests, engaged in which the ignorant Everyman conducts himself wrongly by way of body, speech, and mind.

Kāmapariyesanaṁ… Vyāpādapariyesanaṁ… Vihiṁsāpariyesanaṁ bhikkhave pariyesamāno assutavā puthujjano tīhi ṭhānehi micchā paṭipajjati: kāyena vācāya manasā. (SN ii 151-3)

Good passions

Good passions are:

• unsensuous passion nekkhammapariḷāho
• benevolent passion avyāpādapariḷāho
• compassionate passion avihiṁsāpariḷāho</div>

These lead to unsensuous, benevolent and compassionate quests, engaged in which the learned noble disciple conducts himself rightly by way of body, speech, and mind.

Nekkhammapariyesanaṁ… Avyāpādapariyesanaṁ… Avihiṁsāpariyesanaṁ bhikkhave pariyesamāno sutavā ariyasāvako tīhi ṭhānehi sammā paṭipajjati: kāyena vācāya manasā. (SN ii 151-3)

Sensuous passion

Pariḷāha usually has an object, for example:

• sensuous passion kāmapariḷāho
• passion for individual existence bhavapariḷāho
• passion for views diṭṭhipariḷāho. (AN ii 10-11)

Where it has no object, sensuous passion (kāmapariḷāha) is often implied:

• Because they spend an excessive amount of time gazing at each other, lust was aroused and sensuous passion arose in their bodies. Out of [sensuous] passion they engaged in sexual intercourse.

Tesaṁ ativelaṁ aññamaññaṁ upanijjhāyataṁ sārāgo udapādi pariḷāho kāyasmiṁ okkami. Te pariḷāhapaccayā methunaṁ dhammaṁ paṭiseviṁsu. (DN iii 88)

This helps interpret Thi 33-34, where we take pariḷāho as ‘sensuous passion,’ as follows:

Interpreting Thi 33-34

• From the soles of the feet up, mother, and down from the hair on the crown of the head, contemplate this foul, malodorous body

Uddhaṁ pādatalā amma adho ve kesamatthakā
Paccavekkhassu’maṁ kāyaṁ asuciṁ pūtigandhikaṁ

… As I abide in this way, all my attachment is abolished. My [sensuous] passion is annihilated. I am freed from inward distress. I have realised the Untroubled.

Evaṁ viharamānāya sabbo rāgo samūhato
Pariḷāho samucchinno sītibhūtāmhi nibbutā ti. (Thi 33-4)

Rendering pariḷāha as ‘sensuous passion’ is supported by the fact that reflecting on the parts of body is associated with ‘the abandonment of attachment to sensuous pleasure’ (Idaṁ bhante anussatiṭṭhānaṁ evaṁ bhāvitaṁ evaṁ bahūlikataṁ kāmarāgassa pahānāya saṁvattati, AN iii 323).

➥ pariḷāhaṁ: (main article see: pariḷāha)

Illustration: pariḷāhaṁ, passion

Having dispelled sensuous passion I abide without sensuous thirst, with a mind inwardly at peace.

kāmapariḷāhaṁ paṭivinodetvā vigatapipāso ajjhattaṁ vūpasantacitto viharāmi. (MN i 506)

➥ pariḷāhena: (main article see: pariḷāha)

Illustration: pariḷāhena, passion

Beings… who are tormented by sensuous passion

sattā… kāmapariḷāhena pariḍayhamānā. (MN i 508)

➥ pariḷāho: (main article see: pariḷāha)

Illustration: pariḷāho, passion

Because of sensuous hankering, sensuous passion

Kāmacchandaṁ paṭicca uppajjati kāmapariḷāho

Because of sensuous passion, sensuous quests

Kāmapariḷāhaṁ paṭicca uppajjati kāmapariyesanā. (SN ii 152)

Illustration: pariḷāho, passion

Because of unsensuous hankering, unsensuous passion

Nekkhammacchandaṁ paṭicca uppajjati nekkhammapariḷāho

Because of unsensuous passion, unsensuous quests

Nekkhammapariḷāhaṁ paṭicca uppajjati nekkhammapariyesanā. (SN ii 152)

➥ pariḷāhā: (main article see: pariḷāha)

Illustration: pariḷāhā, anguishing

Vexatious and anguishing perceptually obscuring states

āsavā vighātapariḷāhā. (AN iii 245)

Illustration: pariḷāhā, anguishing

So too, Māgandiya, in the past contact with sensuous pleasures was unpleasant, very hot, and anguishing; in the future contact with sensuous pleasures will be unpleasant, very hot, and anguishing; and now at present contact with sensuous pleasures is unpleasant, very hot, and anguishing.

Evameva kho māgandiya atītampi addhānaṁ kāmā dukkhasamphassā ceva mahābhitāpā ca mahāpariḷāhā ca. Anāgatampi addhānaṁ kāmā dukkhasamphassā ceva mahābhitāpā ca mahāpariḷāhā ca etarahipi paccuppannaṁ addhānaṁ kāmā dukkhasamphassā ceva mahābhitāpā ca mahāpariḷāhā ca. (MN i 507-8)

➥ pariḷāhena: (main article see: pariḷāha)

Illustration: pariḷāhena, anguish

They are tormented by the anguish of birth,

jātipariḷāhena pi pariḍayhanti

They are tormented by the anguish of old age

Jarāpariḷāhena pi pariḍayhanti

They are tormented by the anguish of death

maraṇapariḷāhena pi pariḍayhanti

They are tormented by the anguish of grief, lamentation, physical pain, psychological pain, and vexation.

sokaparidevadukkhadomassupāyāsapariḷāhena pi pariḍayhanti. (SN v 451)

Illustration: pariḷāho, anguish

Bhikkhus, sensuous pleasure, a vile pleasure, the pleasure of the common man, an ignoble pleasure, this is a state associated with pain, distress, vexation, and anguish;

Tatra bhikkhave yamidaṁ kāmasukhaṁ mīḷhasukhaṁ pothujjanasukhaṁ anariyasukhaṁ sadukkho eso dhammo saupaghāto saupāyāso sapariḷāho. (MN iii 236)

Illustration: pariḷāhā, anguishes

For one who abides attached, tethered [to individual existence], undiscerning of reality, contemplating sweetness, the five grasped aggregates accumulate in the future;

Tassa sārattassa saṁyuttassa sammūḷhassa assādānupassino viharato āyatiṁ pañcupādānakkhandhā upacayaṁ gacchanti.

Craving that leads to renewed states of individual existence, accompanied by spiritually fettering delight and attachment, taking delight in this and that, grows.

Taṇhā cassa ponobhavikā nandirāgasahagatā tatra tatrābhinandinī sā cassa pavaḍḍhati.

One’s physical and psychological sufferings, torments, and anguishes increase.

tassa kāyikāpi darathā pavaḍḍhanti cetasikāpi darathā pavaḍḍhanti kayikāpi santāpā pavaḍḍhanti cetasikāpi santāpā pavaḍḍhanti kāyikāpi pariḷāhā pavaḍḍhanti cetasikāpi pariḷāhā pavaḍḍhanti

One experiences physical and psychological unpleasantness

so kāyadukkhampi cetodukkhampi paṭisaṁvedeti. (MN iii 287)

Illustration: pariḷāho, anguish

While he is contemplating the nature of the body, there arises in him, with the body as the object of mindfulness, either bodily anguish, or mental sluggishness, or his mind is distracted outwardly.

tassa kāye kāyānupassino viharato kāyārammaṇo vā uppajjati kāyasmiṁ pariḷāho cetaso vā līnattaṁ bahiddhā vā cittaṁ vikkhipati

That bhikkhu should then direct his mind towards some faith inspiring meditation object.

kismiñcideva pasādaniye nimitte cittaṁ paṇidahitabbaṁ. (SN v 156)