samyakditthi

Samyakditthi, also spelled sammā-ditthi or samyak-ditti, is a core concept in Buddhism meaning “right view” or “correct understanding.” It is the first factor of the Noble Eightfold Path and provides the orientation with which a practitioner approaches the path to liberation. Right view entails a correct understanding of the nature of reality as taught by the Buddha: the Four Noble Truths, the law of karma and rebirth, and the characteristic marks of conditioned phenomena—impermanence (anicca), suffering (dukkha), and non-self (anatta).

Traditionally, right view is described in two levels. The mundane form involves acceptance of causal relations, the consequences of actions, and the reliability of the Buddha's teachings. The supramundane or noble right view is the transformative insight realized by stream-entry and further stages, wherein one directly comprehends dependent origination (paticca-samuppada) and the truths that lead to liberation.

Right view is cultivated through study, reflection, and meditation, and it supports ethical conduct, concentration, and wisdom. It is not a fixed belief but an experiential understanding that grows through practice, experience, and verification. In different Buddhist traditions, the specifics of right view may emphasize different aspects—for example, the Theravada focus on the Four Noble Truths and dependent origination, while Mahayana schools may integrate broader interpretations related to emptiness and universal interdependence.

Samyakditthi thus functions as both a cognitive foundation and a practical guide for ethical and contemplative development on the Buddhist path.