Should we drive defilements away?

Question : Should we drive defilements away or should we flee from defilements?

Answer : Defilements accompany the citta, they have been accumulated. No matter to where you flee, defilements will always go with you. Where there is citta there are defilements. But when the citta is kusala (wholesome), when there is panna, there are no lobha, dosa or moha ; there are at that moment no defilements which cause dukkha.

Question : What should I do to overcome defilements?

Answer : Do you believe that you can overcome defilements yourself? Or should you develop right understanding, panna, which performs the function of eradicating defilements?