4: The Book of the Fours
49. Inversions
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi (More copyright information)
1"Bhikkhus, there are these four inversions of perception, inversions of mind, and inversions of view. [n.729] Saññāvipallāso, cittavipallāso, diṭṭhivipallāso. Vipallāsa is from vi + pari + āsa, "turned upside down." These are treated in terms of abandonment and non-abandonment at Paṭis II 80–81. What four? (1) The inversion of perception, mind, and view that takes the impermanent to be permanent; (2) the inversion of perception, mind, and view that takes what is suffering to be pleasurable; [n.730] I read with Ce and Be dukkhe bhikkhave sukhan ti saññāvipallāso, as against Ee adukkhe bhikkhave dukkhan ti saññāvipallāso. (3) the inversion of perception, mind, and view that takes what is non-self to be self; (4) the inversion of perception, mind, and view that takes what is unattractive to be attractive. These are the four inversions of perception, mind, and view.
2"There are, bhikkhus, these four non-inversions of perception, non-inversions of mind, and non-inversions of view. What four? (1) The non-inversion of perception, mind, and view that takes the impermanent to be impermanent; (2) the non-inversion of perception, mind, and view that takes what is suffering to be suffering; (3) the non-inversion of perception, mind, and view that takes what is non-self to be non-self; (4) the non-inversion of perception, mind, and view that takes what is unattractive to be unattractive. These are the four non-inversions of perception, mind, and view."
3Perceiving permanence in the impermanent,
perceiving pleasure in what is suffering,
perceiving a self in what is non-self,
and perceiving attractiveness in what is unattractive,
beings resort to wrong views,
[n.731] I read with Ce and Ee micchādiṭṭhigatā, as against Be micchādiṭṭhihatā. But I follow the verse divisions of Be rather than of Ce.
their minds deranged, their perception twisted.
4Such people are bound by the yoke of Māra,
and do not reach security from bondage.
Beings continue in saṁsāra,
going to birth and death.
5But when the Buddhas arise in the world,
sending forth a brilliant light,
they reveal this Dhamma that leads
to the stilling of suffering.
6Having heard it, wise people
have regained their sanity.
They have seen the impermanent as impermanent
and what is suffering as suffering.
7They have seen what is non-self
as non-self and the unattractive as unattractive.
By the acquisition of right view,
they have overcome all suffering.
1"Cattārome, bhikkhave, saññāvipallāsā cittavipallāsā diṭṭhivipallāsā. Katame cattāro? Anicce, bhikkhave, niccanti saññāvipallāso cittavipallāso diṭṭhivipallāso; dukkhe, bhikkhave, sukhanti saññāvipallāso cittavipallāso diṭṭhivipallāso; anattani, bhikkhave, attāti saññāvipallāso cittavipallāso diṭṭhivipallāso; asubhe, bhikkhave, subhanti saññāvipallāso cittavipallāso diṭṭhivipallāso. Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro saññāvipallāsā cittavipallāsā diṭṭhivipallāsā.
2Cattārome, bhikkhave, nasaññāvipallāsā nacittavipallāsā nadiṭṭhivipallāsā. Katame cattāro? Anicce, bhikkhave, aniccanti nasaññāvipallāso nacittavipallāso nadiṭṭhivipallāso; dukkhe, bhikkhave, dukkhanti nasaññāvipallāso nacittavipallāso nadiṭṭhivipallāso; anattani, bhikkhave, anattāti nasaññāvipallāso nacittavipallāso nadiṭṭhivipallāso; asubhe, bhikkhave, asubhanti nasaññāvipallāso nacittavipallāso nadiṭṭhivipallāso. Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro nasaññāvipallāsā nacittavipallāsā nadiṭṭhivipallāsāti.
3Anicce niccasaññino,
dukkhe ca sukhasaññino;
Anattani ca attāti,
asubhe subhasaññino;
Micchādiṭṭhihatā sattā,
khittacittā visaññino.
4Te yogayuttā mārassa,
ayogakkhemino janā;
Sattā gacchanti saṁsāraṁ,
jātimaraṇagāmino.
5Yadā ca buddhā lokasmiṁ,
Uppajjanti pabhaṅkarā;
Te imaṁ dhammaṁ pakāsenti,
Dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.
6Tesaṁ sutvāna sappaññā,
sacittaṁ paccaladdhā te;
Aniccaṁ aniccato dakkhuṁ,
dukkhamaddakkhu dukkhato.
7Anattani anattāti,
asubhaṁ asubhataddasuṁ;
Sammādiṭṭhisamādānā,
sabbaṁ dukkhaṁ upaccagun"ti.
Navamaṁ.
