What Is False View?

The term "delusion" (妄) signifies falsehood. In the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, deluded views are categorized into individual karma-based deluded views and collective karma-based deluded views. Both refer to the perception of sentient beings within the mundane realm—the perception that perceives illusory dharmas. One meaning of "deluded view" is the perception arising from the deluded consciousness of the seven vijnanas (七识). Another meaning is that all dharmas of the six dusts (六尘) perceived by the seven vijnanas are illusory and unreal. How is it that what the seven vijnanas perceive is illusory and unreal? What is the ultimate and fundamental meaning of "illusory"?

In the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, the Buddha explained what constitutes a deluded view. A person with an eye affliction, when looking at a lamp, sees a ring of red circular shadows, whereas a person without eye affliction sees only the lamp light, without any red, black, or yellow circular shadows. There are no circular shadows in the lamp light; it is due to the eye affliction that one falsely perceives the existence of circular shadows. Having an eye affliction is called a deluded view—deludedly perceiving a dharma that does not truly exist, which is itself illusory and unreal. The Buddha used this analogy to explain that all sentient minds possess the affliction of ignorance (无明病). Because of this, they perceive mountains, rivers, the earth, the material universe of the six dust realms, beings within the six realms of rebirth, and the birth, aging, sickness, and death of sentient beings. Perception arising from ignorance is called a deluded view, and what is seen by this deluded view is even more illusory. In contrast, all Buddhas are free from the affliction of ignorance; everything they perceive is the true Suchness (真如相). There are no illusory dharmas, no mundane dharmas. The eighth vijnana, the Tathāgatagarbha (如来藏), which is free from ignorance, also has no deluded views. It does not perceive any mundane dharmas, does not perceive any illusory appearances, does not perceive the appearances of the six dusts, and does not perceive the appearances of sentient beings.

If someone claims to have truly perceived the realms of the six dusts, to have seen you, me, him, her, to have seen sentient beings, or to have perceived the appearances of mundane dharmas, then this is the deluded view arising from ignorance. Perceiving the appearances of dharmas as truly existing within the mundane realm is the deluded view of ignorance. Affirming the existence of any worldly dharma as real constitutes a deluded view. What does non-deluded perception see? It sees the true Suchness of Buddha-nature (真如佛性), it perceives the unborn and undying true reality (实相), just as all Buddhas perceive.

By studying the true Dharma of the Tathāgatagarbha, one gradually sees through, penetrates, and thoroughly comprehends the illusory nature of deluded dharmas, understanding their essence. Gradually reducing deluded views and views born of ignorance, one will progressively diminish afflictions and suffering, gradually progressing towards the wisdom of the Buddha. Ultimately, like the Buddha, one exhausts ignorance. This is the source of true happiness and the bright path to liberation.