The Floods: SoCal surf's up; Hurricane Isaias

The Buddha warned of four great floods

Ven. Nyanatiloka (Buddhist Dictionary) edited by Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly

Say it slowly, Awakened One, so we can hear it.

The Buddhist term "floods" (ogha) is a name for the four influxes (the āsavas or "taints, corruptions, cankers, outflows, intoxicating biases" as in DN 16 the Mahā Parinibbāna Sutta, Paṭisambhidā-magga, and Vibhaṅga).

What are these four great dangers? The flood or influx of:

1. sensual craving (kāmāsava)
2. [craving for] existence (bhavāsava)
3. [wrong] views (ditthāsava)
4. ignorance (avijjāsava).

I want to hear this to be free from future dangers

A list of three, omitting the influx of views, is possibly older and occurs more frequently in the sutras (e.g., in MN 2, MN 9, DN 33; A.III.59, 67; A.VI.63). The Vibhanga (Khuddakavatthu Vibhanga) mentions both this threefold and fourfold division.

The fourfold division also occurs under the name of "floods" (ogha) and "yokes" (yoga).

Through the first stage of enlightenment (the path of stream-entry), the flood of [clinging to wrong] views is destroyed.

Through the third stage (the path of non-returning), the flood of sensual craving is done away with.

Through the fourth stage (the path of arhatship, full enlightenment), the floods of craving for eternal existence (endless rebirths in samsara) and ignorance are stopped. Craving can be brought to cessation?

The Samaññaphala Sutta (MN 2) shows how to overcome these four floods, namely, through:

• insight (wisdom),
• sense-control (restraint),
• avoidance (adverting attention),
• wise use of the necessities of life,
• and so on.

Why would anyone want to awaken?

For a commentarial exposition, see Atthasālini (Tr. I, p. 63f: II, pp. 475ff.)

Khīnāsava is "one whose corruptions are destroyed" or "one who is free of cankers." This is a name for an arhat, a perfected person, a Buddhist saint, completely liberated person who has awakened and experienced nirvana in this very life and lives out the remainder of life in complete certainty of liberation (moksha) and freedom (vimutti).

Can an enlightened person surf over the floods?

This state of arhatship is frequently called āsavakkhaya, "the destruction of the floods." Discourses concluding with the attainment of arhatship by those who hear them, often culminate with the words:

"During this utterance, the hearts of the [meditators, listeners, hearers] were freed from the floods through clinging no more" (anupādāya āsavehi cittāni vimuccimsū'ti).

California coastal flood chaos! 🌊 Massive waves flood streets, vehicles stranded in Newport Beach, OC

Aerial view of the low-lying City of Newport Beach, SoCal (photo by Don Ramey Logan/wiki)

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No, Son, that's too dangerous! Get inside!

(Storm-HQ) Southern California coastal flooding turns streets into rivers on October 9, 2026, as massive waves, swells, and unusually high tides overwhelmed ritzy Newport Beach (OC) and Long Beach (LA), battering Surf City USA in Southern California.

Floodwaters surround vehicles across the Balboa Peninsula, while powerful surf damages multimillion dollar beachfront homes and coastal defenses in Long Beach.

With Tropical Storm Rachel approaching, emergency officials warned that more dangerous flooding could follow.

Tropical Storm Rachel hits LA, OC

(NewsX Live) We're in absolute shock; all we can do is play in the water

(Asianet) Will Tropical Storm Rachel take out parts of So. California?

Newport Beach is so rich with such a concentration of West Coast wealth that it has its own flag

See, God, it's just that Newport is where we park all of our rich and fancy yachts (Balboa Island)

Aerial view of the Lido Peninsula in Newport Beach, California (Don Ramey Logan)

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Balboa Peninsula, Newport Beach, OC

Newport Beach, California, became one of the hardest-hit communities as seawater surged into residential streets across the Balboa Peninsula. Flooding affected approximately 15 to 20 blocks, leaving vehicles surrounded by corrosive seawater and reaching nearby properties.

Officials reported that the morning tide rose roughly nearly two feet (20 inches) above its predicted level, creating dangerous conditions for motorists and residents.

The City of Newport Beach declared a local emergency as coastal floodwaters spread through vulnerable neighborhoods.

Home about to collapse into ocean

Meanwhile in Malibu, residents like Del Rey just want to get high by beach

(KTLA 5) Home on verge of collapse as high tide hits Long Beach Peninsula

Emergency crews deployed pumps, opened drainage valves, and worked to rebuild protective sand barriers.

Toxic sewage about to swamp LA, OC

WARNING: Residents and visitors are urged to avoid flooded streets while authorities respond to the rapidly developing coastal flooding emergency.

Long Beach, in LA County (home of the Queen Mary and Spruce Goose), are also suffering significant storm damage as massive waves batter the Peninsula and break through sections of a protective coastal barrier.

The Beach Boys and their Woody vehicle popularized the myth of a perfect, ever-sunny SoCal

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We're fine on sunny days. Let's clean up!

Seawater flooded nearby streets, damaged beachfront properties, and threatened homes along Seaside Walk. Building inspectors declared some structures unsafe to enter, while one severely damaged beachfront home faced the risk of collapsing toward the ocean.

The destruction extends beyond flooded neighborhoods. Powerful surf is damaging the access road to San Onofre State Beach near the Orange County and San Diego County boundary.

Coastal erosion, damaged infrastructure, and dangerous waves are raising concerns across Southern California as residents prepare for additional high tides.

• Hurricane Isaias leaves mark on Florida Panhandle with long road to recovery ahead
• Isaias moving inland after Cat 2 Florida landfall causes extensive damage to several communities | Fox

Hurricane Isaias hits Southeast USA

Hurricane Isaias 2026: storm damage, flood threat on Florida’s Gulf Coast

(Severe Weather USA) Hurricane Isaias landfall, power out, winds, floods

I ain't afraid of no surf!

Tropical Storm Rachel added another threat to the California flooding emergency. The approaching Pacific storm prompted a rare tropical storm watch for coastal San Diego County, including San Diego, Oceanside, Carlsbad, and Chula Vista.

Forecasters are warning of possible strong winds, heavy rainfall, dangerous surf, and additional coastal flooding over the weekend.

• [SoCal is suffering a massive heat wave during Indian Summer 2026, but over the weekend it'll rain before things heat up again.*]

At least mountains are safe? Not quite

Big Bear Lake in summer, Southern California

Flood watches far from the beaches also cover inland communities across San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Palm Springs (the high desert), Coachella (site of the massive annual festival), Indio (with its inland Salton Sea), Big Bear Lake (home of Jackie and Shadow, the most famous eagles in the world), and Lake Arrowhead face the possibility of flash flooding as tropical moisture approaches desert valleys and mountain communities.

These locations are under weather alerts rather than confirmed reports of widespread flood destruction.

Hurricane Simon goes for Mexico

(Asianet News English) Hurricane Simon comes after Mexico: boats sink,

roads flood, and tourist destination Puerto Vallarta prepares for big hit

Will Trump's Iran bomb us in time?

Iran, now's a good time to bomb LA and SD

Coastal flood advisories extend north toward Malibu, Ventura, San Francisco, Monterey Bay, and Big Sur, where elevated tides and powerful waves threaten low-lying roads, beach facilities, and shoreline neighborhoods. (Goodbye, Gilroy, "Garlic Capital of the World," and your festival).

Malibu and surrounding neighborhoods, LA

Authorities warn that dangerous conditions could continue through the weekend and into the following week. This video covers the Oct. 9, 2026, California floods, Newport Beach flooding, Balboa Peninsula flood damage, Long Beach coastal flooding, Tropical Storm Rachel, massive waves, flooded streets, vehicles surrounded by water, damaged beachfront homes, coastal erosion, and severe weather across Southern California, West Coast, USA.

Post-Iran nuking weather report

*Tropical Storm Rachel to bring rain, coastal flooding risk to SoCal

• ALERT: Bill Martin West Coast Weather Channel: Rachel

The confirmed flooding and property damage described in this report occurred primarily in Newport Beach and Long Beach. Other California locations face flood watches and coastal warnings, with additional impacts dependent on changing weather conditions.

For official California flood warnings, coastal flood advisories, and tropical storm updates, follow the National Weather Service, NOAA National Hurricane Center, and local emergency management authorities. And don't say we didn't warn you. #CaliforniaFloods #NewportBeach #CoastalFlooding