The three afflictions (Greed, Anger, Delusion) are like three evil spirits, including: Bành Cư at the head, Bành Chất at the abdomen, Bành Kiểu at the hands and feet, who often incite people to do wrong (some sources interpret them as Bành Cư, Bành Căn, and Bành Dục).
This phrase normally goes along with the Six Robbers, which have a popular reference to
The six robbers refer to the six senses: eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind. They are called the six robbers because they often incite people to become attached to beautiful sights, pleasant sounds, fragrant smells, delicious tastes, bodily comfort, and mental desires.
A practicer who can bring the six senses (six robbers) under control and is no longer polluted by the six sense objects achieves the six supernatural powers and attains freedom and liberation (When the human sense organs and sense objects are pure, one obtains the six supernatural powers; this is the truth).
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