Compiled according to the teachings of the Master
The Delusional Series: Part 4 – Delusion as Ignorance, Wrong View, and Foolishness 6
When delving into the nature of delusions, we often find it helpful to equate them with ignorance. This conceptual linkage allows us to explore the underlying causes of our misconceptions. However, delusions are more intricate than mere ignorance. They are intricately woven with other afflictions such as greed, anger, delusion itself, pride, and doubt, as well as the defilements arising from our six sense faculties. In essence, delusions are a complex manifestation of ignorance.
While delusions and ignorance are synonymous, sentient beings often struggle to comprehend the nature of ignorance. Consequently, we may initially use the term “ignorance” more frequently in our discussions, but later find it less effective. This is because individuals may not readily acknowledge their ignorance. When confronted with the notion of delusions, they may defend their thoughts, claiming them to be correct and justified. For instance, they might argue that their greed is justified because they have attained their desired objects. Similarly, they may dismiss the concept of foolishness as irrelevant to their experiences. To address this resistance, we often find it more effective to use the term “erroneous view.” While individuals may still deny holding erroneous views, they are more likely to acknowledge that their delusions lead them astray.
In conclusion, delusions, ignorance, erroneous views, and foolishness are essentially interchangeable terms. Delusions are inherently incorrect and lead one down a false path. This is why they are considered foolish; they are akin to reaching for a cup while misjudging its location.
The fundamental root of delusions, erroneous views, and foolishness lies in ignorance.
All sensations, delusions, and impulsive actions originate from ignorance. Once delusions arise, they give birth to these various experiences, which seem to be grounded in our immediate perceptions. As we have established, delusions are synonymous with erroneous views and foolishness, with ignorance as their ultimate root.
When we experience sensations such as sweetness or bitterness, what are we truly perceiving? These sensations are merely the result of our past conditioning, our habitual patterns of perception. They are not inherent qualities of the objects themselves, but rather our subjective interpretations. The moment we label these sensations, we introduce a form of delusion, for we are imposing our own conceptual frameworks onto reality.
This process of labeling and categorization is what we refer to as “establishing a conceptual grasp.” By defining and categorizing our experiences, we create ignorance. All these terms—delusions, erroneous views, foolishness, and ignorance—share a common root, but they manifest in different ways. While they are branches of the same tree, they are not the root itself.
If we were to experience something without any preconceived notions or labels, would we still be able to perceive it? Yes, we would still perceive it, but without the accompanying conceptualizations. It would be like seeing something for the very first time, without immediately assigning it a category or definition. For instance, upon seeing an object, we might initially label it as “metal.” However, this is already a form of error, as we are imposing a limited concept onto the infinite possibilities of the object. We tend to excessively define and categorize our experiences, attaching labels to nearly every aspect of our perceptions. These labels are what we call sensations.
