Perversions
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http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.049.than.html
AN 4.49
PTS: A ii 52
Vipallasa Sutta: Perversions
translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
© 1997–2013
Alternate translation: Olendzki (excerpt)
"Monks, there are these four perversions of perception, perversions of mind, perversions of view. Which four? 'Constant' with regard to the inconstant is a perversion of perception, a perversion of mind, a perversion of view. 'Pleasant' with regard to the stressful... 'Self' with regard to not-self... 'Attractive' with regard to the unattractive is a perversion of perception, a perversion of mind, a perversion of view. These are the four perversions of perception, perversions of mind, perversions of view.
"There are these four non-perversions of perception, non-perversions of mind, non-perversions of view. Which four? 'Inconstant' with regard to the inconstant is a non-perversion of perception, a non-perversion of mind, a non-perversion of view. 'Stressful' with regard to the stressful... 'Not-self' with regard to not-self... 'Unattractive' with regard to the unattractive is a non-perversion of perception, a non-perversion of mind, a non-perversion of view. These are the four non-perversions of perception, non-perversions of mind, non-perversions of view."
Perceiving constancy in the inconstant, pleasure in the stressful, self in what's not-self, attractiveness in the unattractive, beings, destroyed by wrong-view, go mad, out of their minds. Bound to Mara's yoke, from the yoke they find no rest. Beings go on to the wandering-on, leading to birth & death. But when Awakened Ones arise in the world, bringing light to the world, they proclaim the Dhamma leading to the stilling of stress. When those with discernment listen, they regain their senses, seeing the inconstant as inconstant, the stressful as stressful, what's not-self as not-self, the unattractive as unattractive. Undertaking right view, they transcend all stress & suffering. -
Kyle Dixon wrote: So that's all well and good that you're joking Dannon, but for the sake of others following this thread who may be unfamiliar with these ideas: it's important to understand what these tentative ideas of virtuous and unvirtuous conduct truly represent. Otherwise yes they can be seen as fodder for judgmental behavior and superiority complexes...
The dharma is first and foremost a soteriological method (a means to actualize liberation) and therefore both bondage and liberation must be conventionally defined along with their respective implications, causes, conditions, attributes, characteristics, qualities etc. For that reason Buddhism employs what it calls 'right view'. Right view is behavior, conduct, insight, knowledge etc. which is conducive to liberation, wrong view is behavior, conduct etc. conducive to bondage. Discrimination therefore plays a big role but discrimination must be keenly exercised in a skillful manner. The dharma provides many ways to keenly and skillfully 'judge' what constitutes fertile grounds or circumstances for swiftly imposing liberation upon oneself. By initially conducting oneself in accordance with right view and virtuous conduct the hope is that realizations will flower which will subsequently make the cultivation of wisdom an effortless process. So the goal is to reach a point where contrivance is no longer required but in the meantime until one reaches that point, some effort to uphold right view and conduct may be necessary.
Buddhahood should be seen as an innate quality which is only ever obscured by our own habitual tendencies and karmic propensities just as gold buried in the ground is covered by dirt. Both cases require excavation and that excavation must be done skillfully. Some tools get the job done quicker than others and so these instructions and teachings are simply what the buddha (and other great adepts of the dharma) felt were the best tools for the job.
Defining perversion (ignorance) is not mean to engender a morally dualistic, holier than thou attitude in a relative judgmental way for purposes of casting petty aspersions at other people, places, things. 'Right view' is proper view and conduct which will lead to liberation. 'Wrong view' is perverted view and conduct (i.e. habitual tendencies and karmic propensities) which will sustain ignorance. The purpose of the dharma is to create buddhas and so right view, virtuous conduct and skillful means are to be championed.