What are Vysan?

Vysan (often written Vyasan) in Jainism means a passion or defilement of the mind that binds the soul to karmic matter. It is not a separate ritual or external act, but an internal attitude or emotion that disturbs right view and conduct.

Key points:

• Vyasan = internal passions that obstruct liberation. The most important group is the five major passions (kashaya): anger, pride, deceit, greed, and attachment (these are the main mental defilements that cloud the soul).
• These inner passions bind karma and keep the soul in the cycle of birth and death.
• There can be variations in terms and lists between Digambar and Śvetambar interpretations, but the essential idea remains: vyasan are the mental taints that must be overcome on the path to moksha.

If you’d like, I can share brief, simple ways Jain teachers describe overcoming vyasan in daily practice.