Hi, Dimitry:

> It's 'aasavaa'. The word itself is pre-Buddhist and means a leak
> through which defilements flow in.

I had understood aasava to be an *outflow* rather than an inflow.

The sense I get is of aasava being a fundamental, underlying tendency
in the mind that drives all other defiled mental activity.

The PED gives four. Quote: "The 4 asavas are kam°, bhav°, ditth°,
avijj°, i. e. sensuality, rebirth (lust of life), speculation and
ignorance."

I think it may also have been translated as "cankers" as well
as "taints" in some early translations?

Derek.