ditthasava

Ditthasava is a Pali term used in Buddhism that translates to "perversion of view" or "perverse view." It refers to a fundamental misunderstanding or wrong perception of reality, particularly concerning the nature of existence, the self, and the path to liberation. Ditthasava is considered a powerful defilement (klesa) that binds beings to the cycle of suffering (samsara).

There are generally considered to be several types of ditthasava, though the exact enumeration can vary in different Buddhist traditions. Common examples include the view of permanence (sassataditthi), which wrongly asserts that a self or essence is eternal and unchanging, and the view of annihilation (ucchedaditthi), which wrongly asserts that existence ceases completely at death. Other ditthasavas include views that deny the law of karma, that deny the possibility of liberation, or that hold rigidly to a personal view as ultimate truth.

The Buddha taught that ditthasava arises from ignorance (avijja) and the mind's tendency to grasp onto false concepts. It is the root of many unwholesome actions and leads to further suffering. The Noble Eightfold Path, particularly the cultivation of right view (samma ditthi) and right understanding, is the means by which ditthasava is gradually overcome. Through wisdom and insight, one can see through these perversions of view and realize the true nature of reality, leading to the cessation of suffering.