Emotional Distress - Klesas

http://www.tientai.net/glossary/108bonno.htm

The different kinds of Emotional Distress (S. Klesas or Klistomanas) are the afflictions of mind that taint or defile comprehension of realities (dharmas).

Before the development of the idea of the twelve-fold wheel of dependence on origination, Sakyamuni taught this threefold formula for the second noble truth about origination:

· Emotional distress creates causative actions (karmas)
· Karmas create the resultant sufferings (duhkhas)
· Sufferings create emotional distress (klesas)

Through Buddhist practice:

Improper motive become Proper Intent:

1. Greed becomes generosity
2. Anger becomes patience & endurance
3. Stupidity becomes wisdom
4. Conceit becomes embracing of the precepts with humility
5. Doubt and distraction becomes mental (meditative) concentration

Improper views become Proper Views:

6. Lack of belief in cause effect becomes faith in cause and effect and understanding of karma and retribution (the temporary or provisional spiritual reality)
7. Clinging to views becomes understanding of the dialectic of emptiness
8. Believe in extremes becomes understanding of the middle way
9. Believe in the ego becomes understanding of Nirvana
10. Believe that ascetic practices or rituals will lead to salvation becomes understanding of the true path of enlightenment.