Paṭisambhidāmagga 1 Mahāvagga 1.8.

The Discourse on Distortions

Vipallāsakathā Purimanidānaṁ.

The preliminary cause.

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, saññāvipallāsā cittavipallāsā diṭṭhivipallāsā.

Disciples, there are these four distortions of perception, distortions of mind, and distortions of view.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

Anicce, bhikkhave, niccanti saññāvipallāso cittavipallāso diṭṭhivipallāso.

Disciples, the distortion of perception, the distortion of mind, and the distortion of view that perceives the impermanent as permanent.

Dukkhe, bhikkhave, sukhanti saññāvipallāso cittavipallāso diṭṭhivipallāso.

Disciples, the distortion of perception, the distortion of mind, and the distortion of view that perceives suffering as happiness.

Anattani, bhikkhave, attāti saññāvipallāso cittavipallāso diṭṭhivipallāso.

Disciples, the distortion of perception, the distortion of mind, and the distortion of view that perceives non-self as self.

Asubhe, bhikkhave, subhanti saññāvipallāso cittavipallāso diṭṭhivipallāso.

Disciples, the distortion of perception, the distortion of mind, and the distortion of view that perceives the impure as pure.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro saññāvipallāsā cittavipallāsā diṭṭhivipallāsā.

These are the four distortions of perception, distortions of mind, and distortions of view.

Cattārome, bhikkhave, nasaññāvipallāsā nacittavipallāsā nadiṭṭhivipallāsā.

Disciples, there are these four non-distortions of perception, non-distortions of mind, and non-distortions of view.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

Anicce, bhikkhave, aniccanti nasaññāvipallāso nacittavipallāso nadiṭṭhivipallāso.

Disciples, the non-distortion of perception, the non-distortion of mind, and the non-distortion of view that perceives the impermanent as impermanent.

Dukkhe, bhikkhave, dukkhanti nasaññāvipallāso nacittavipallāso nadiṭṭhivipallāso.

Disciples, the non-distortion of perception, the non-distortion of mind, and the non-distortion of view that perceives suffering as suffering.

Anattani, bhikkhave, anattāti nasaññāvipallāso nacittavipallāso nadiṭṭhivipallāso.

Disciples, the non-distortion of perception, the non-distortion of mind, and the non-distortion of view that perceives non-self as non-self.

Asubhe, bhikkhave, asubhanti nasaññāvipallāso nacittavipallāso nadiṭṭhivipallāso.

Disciples, the non-distortion of perception, the non-distortion of mind, and the non-distortion of view that perceives the impure as impure.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro nasaññāvipallāsā nacittavipallāsā nadiṭṭhivipallāsā”ti.

These are the four non-distortions of perception, non-distortions of mind, and non-distortions of view.

“Anicce niccasaññino, dukkhe ca sukhasaññino; Anattani ca attāti, asubhe subhasaññino; Micchādiṭṭhihatā sattā, khittacittā visaññino.

Those who perceive permanence in the impermanent, And happiness in suffering, Self in what is non-self, And beauty in the impure, Are beings with wrong views, Their minds are deranged and unknowing.

Te yogayuttā mārassa, ayogakkhemino janā; Sattā gacchanti saṁsāraṁ, jātimaraṇagāmino.

They are bound by the yoke of Mara, And are not free from the yoke.

Such beings go through the cycle of existence, Heading towards birth and death.

Yadā ca buddhā lokasmiṁ, uppajjanti pabhaṅkarā; Te imaṁ dhammaṁ pakāsenti, dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.

But when Tathāgatas arise in the world, They are the light-bringers. They reveal this Dhamma, Leading to the cessation of suffering.

Tesaṁ sutvāna sappaññā, sacittaṁ paccaladdhu te; Aniccaṁ aniccato dakkhuṁ, dukkhamaddakkhu dukkhato.

Having heard it, the wise, Regain their right mind. They see the impermanent as impermanent, And suffering as suffering.

Anattani anattāti, asubhaṁ asubhataddasuṁ; Sammādiṭṭhisamādānā, sabbaṁ dukkhaṁ upaccagun”ti.

They see non-self as non-self, And the impure as impure.

With right view, They overcome all suffering.

Ime cattāro vipallāsā diṭṭhisampannassa puggalassa pahīnā, appahīnāti.

These four distortions are abandoned by a person endowed with right view, but not abandoned by others.

Keci pahīnā, keci appahīnā?

Some are abandoned, some are not abandoned?

Anicce niccanti saññāvipallāso cittavipallāso diṭṭhivipallāso pahīno.

The distortion of perception, the distortion of mind, and the distortion of view that perceives the impermanent as permanent is abandoned.

Dukkhe sukhanti saññā uppajjati, cittaṁ uppajjati, diṭṭhivipallāso pahīno.

The perception of suffering as happiness arises, the mind arises, the distortion of view is abandoned.

Anattani attāti saññāvipallāso cittavipallāso diṭṭhivipallāso pahīno.

The distortion of perception, the distortion of mind, and the distortion of view that perceives non-self as self is abandoned.

Asubhe subhanti saññā uppajjati, cittaṁ uppajjati, diṭṭhivipallāso pahīno.

The perception of the impure as pure arises, the mind arises, the distortion of view is abandoned.

Dvīsu vatthūsu cha vipallāsā pahīnā.

In two objects, six distortions are abandoned.

Dvīsu vatthūsu dve vipallāsā pahīnā, cattāro vipallāsā appahīnā.

In two objects, two distortions are abandoned, four distortions are not abandoned.

Catūsu vatthūsu aṭṭha vipallāsā pahīnā, cattāro vipallāsā appahīnāti.

In four objects, eight distortions are abandoned, four distortions are not abandoned.

Vipallāsakathā niṭṭhitā.

The discussion on distortions is concluded.