gemma2:latest

In the Pali Canon, distention (विस्फारण, visphāraṇ), a specific kind of mental state characterized by:

• Expansion - a feeling or sense of swelling, increasing, or broadening within the mind.
• Lack of Control - a sense of being overpowered or influenced by this expansion.

Context and Importance

Distention is often discussed in the context of attachment (raaga) and aversion (dosa).

attachment to pleasant experiences averse to unpleasant experiences

When we become attached to pleasant experiences or averse to unpleasant ones, our minds can become distorted and inflated. This distortion leads to a sense of distention, causing us to cling tightly to our desires and aversions, leading to further suffering.

Follow up questions:

Can you give some examples of how distention might manifest in daily life? [might be able to use notion AI for this?]