Light of Dharma — Free Buddhist Meditation, Sutta Pitaka & Nāgārjuna Philosophy Sanctuary

A 100% free, ad-free, self-paced sanctuary for mindfulness meditation, canonical chanting, and Buddhist philosophical inquiry.

Core Curricula & Study Tracks

Light of Dharma offers four deep-learning paths grounded in authentic canonical texts:

28-Day Sanctuary Course: Daily contemplation, breath meditation, and reflective journaling exploring Dukkha, Anicca, Anatta, the 5 Hindrances, and the Noble Eightfold Path.
Nāgārjuna & the Middle Way: 10 gateways into Madhyamaka philosophy, Mūlamadhyamakakārikā analysis, and dialectical inquiry beyond nihilism and eternalism.
The Wheel & The Web: 16 modules on the 12 links of Dependent Origination (Paṭicca-samuppāda), the Bhavacakra mandala, and interactive psychological labs.
Sacred Sutta Library: Canonical discourses with authentic Pali phonetics, Chinese Buddhist translations with Pinyin, and meditative commentaries.
Dharma Journal & Practice Ledger: Personal contemplative reflections, Pali terminology glossary, and habit tracking.

The 10 Canonical Suttas & Sūtras

Nāgārjuna & the Middle Way (10 Gateways)

Direct Course Navigation

Guided Buddhist Topic Hubs (Question-Led Inquiries)

Buddhist Terms in Context (Canonical Glossary)

Free Group Study & Facilitator Resources

Editorial Transparency & Machine-Readable Access

Public Dharma glossary

Kilesa

Pronunciation: ki-LAY-suh

Canonical definition: Unwholesome mental factors, particularly greed (Lobha), aversion (Dosa), and delusion (Moha).

Morphological structure

From √kliś, to torment, stain, or afflict: mental defilement or emotional affliction.

Canonical usage

Unwholesome mental factors, particularly greed (Lobha), aversion (Dosa), and delusion (Moha).

Common misunderstanding

Defilements are conditioned visitors to awareness, not permanent flaws in a person’s character.

Practical significance

Recognizing a kilesa early prevents it from hardening into destructive behavior.

Source anchor

AN 3.69; Itivuttaka 50