Grammatical Analysis
Diṭṭhi: [f.] view; belief; dogma; theory; perspective. From root dis (to see). While it literally means “seeing,” in doctrinal usage without an adjective, it almost exclusively implies Micchādiṭṭhi (wrong view).
Orthodox Definition
Diṭṭhi represents the cognitive framework through which a being interprets reality. In Theravāda psychology, it is an unwholesome mental factor (akusala-cetasika) that arises within four specific greed-rooted consciousness types (diṭṭhigatasampayutta-lobhamūla-citta).
The commentaries state that its characteristic is unwise interpretation (ayoniso abhinivesa-lakkhaṇā). It is functionally worse than mere ignorance (moha); ignorance is simply being blind in the dark, whereas diṭṭhi is actively hallucinating false objects in that darkness and fiercely defending them.
It forms the most dangerous type of clinging (diṭṭhupādāna) and acts as one of the deep latent tendencies (diṭṭhānusaya). Because wrong views (such as eternalism, annihilationism, or believing rituals purify the soul) fundamentally lock a practitioner out of the Noble Path, this mental factor must be absolutely shattered by the arising of the supramundane path of Stream-entry (sotāpatti-magga).
Textual References
- Sutta: Brahmajāla Sutta (DN 1) – The “Net of Views,” capturing the 62 possible permutations of philosophical falsehood.
- Abhidhamma: Dhammasaṅgaṇī (Classification of the view-associated mental states).
- Commentary: Atthasālinī – Detailing how view differs from conceit; view analyzes the object falsely, while conceit inflates the subject.