The Discourse on Perversions

The Buddha's words

Vipallāsasutta from Tipitaka_Pali_Reader

Photo by Mitchell Luo on Unsplash

“Bhikkhus, there are these four perversions of perception, perversions of mind, perversions of view. What are the four? Bhikkhus, the perversion of perception, perversion of mind, perversion of view that is permanence in the impermanent; the perversion of perception, perversion of mind, perversion of view that is pleasure in suffering; the perversion of perception, perversion of mind, perversion of view that is self in the non-self; the perversion of perception, perversion of mind, perversion of view that is beauty in the unattractive. These, bhikkhus, are the four perversions of perception, perversions of mind, perversions of view.

“Bhikkhus, there are these four non-perversions of perception, non-perversions of mind, non-perversions of view. What are the four?

Bhikkhus, the non-perversion of perception, non-perversion of mind, non-perversion of view that is impermanence in the impermanent; the non-perversion of perception, non-perversion of mind, non-perversion of view that is suffering in suffering; the non-perversion of perception, non-perversion of mind, non-perversion of view that is non-self in the non-self; the non-perversion of perception, non-perversion of mind, non-perversion of view that is unattractiveness in the unattractive. These, bhikkhus, are the four non-perversions of perception, non-perversions of mind, non-perversions of view.”

“Beings perceive permanence in the impermanent,

And pleasure in suffering;

They perceive self in the non-self, and beauty in the unattractive;

Beings, struck by wrong view, with minds bewildered and perverted perceptions,

Are yoked to Māra, those people are not secure from bondage;

Beings wander in saṃsāra, bound for birth and death.

But when Buddhas arise in the world, those illuminators,

They proclaim this Dhamma that leads to the cessation of suffering.

Having heard them, the wise, having regained their own minds,

Saw the impermanent as impermanent, and saw suffering as suffering.

They saw the non-self as non-self, and the unattractive as unattractive; Having embraced right view, they transcended all suffering.”