Significance of Delusion
Synonyms: Illusion, Misconception, Fallacy, Deception, Fantasy, Mirage, Misbelief, Hallucination, False belief, Chimera
In French: Illusion; In Dutch: Waanidee; In Finnish: Harhaluulo; In Spanish: Engaño; In Italian: Delirio; In German: Täuschung; In Malay: Khayalan; In Swedish: Villfarelse; In Portugese: Ilusão; In Polish: Złudzenie
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Buddhist concept of 'Delusion'
Delusion in Buddhism signifies a fundamental misunderstanding of reality and existence, encompassing ignorance, false beliefs, and misconceptions. It obstructs enlightenment by leading to erroneous views and harmful actions, thus perpetuating the cycle of suffering and rebirth.
From: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
(1) It is categorized into bad and simple forms, influencing the ability to convert and save beings from suffering.[1] (2) It is a false belief or misperception of reality. Some practices can drive away this, but not other negative emotions.[2] (3) Delusion, also known as moha, impairs the ability to discern accurately, specifically preventing individuals from distinguishing between the beautiful and the ugly, thereby hindering their capacity to praise appropriately.[3] (4) The misunderstanding of the nature of realities and experiences, which results from grasping at wrong views about existence and identity.[4] (5) A state that, when abundant, leads to rebirth as insects or foolish birds.[5]
From: Shurangama Sutra (with commentary) (English)
(1) Delusion is a state of ignorance and lack of understanding that leads to the creation of bad karma and, subsequently, the retribution of suffering in a three-part process.[6] (2) Deluded describes people who are ignorant of certain facts and mistakenly assign the origin of consciousness to causes and conditions or spontaneity.[7] (3) Referring to the state of being misled or confused about the nature of reality, often leading to suffering.[8] (4) Misguided beliefs arising from false views that prevent individuals from seeing the truth, leading to the cycle of karma and rebirth.[9] (5) A state of misunderstanding that obscures true perception, causing confusion and leading to erroneous views.[10]
From: Bodhisattvacharyavatara
(1) Scholars can be deluded when teaching or debating, highlighting the importance of careful consideration and verification of information to avoid spreading misinformation.[11] (2) Holding on to something that does not exist. It is temporary, not primordial. It is not the natural state of the mind. The natural state of the mind is primordially free from any fixation.[12] (3) A mistaken perception of reality, which leads to emotional disturbances and suffering; overcoming delusion is essential for achieving enlightenment.[13] (4) A state of misunderstanding rooted in ignorance that prevents recognition of reality.[14]
From: The 6th Patriarch Platform Sutra
(1) A misunderstanding or misperception of reality, causing attachments and erroneous beliefs that hinder spiritual progress.[15] (2) A state of misunderstanding one’s own Essence of Mind, critiqued by the Patriarch.[16]
From: Mahavastu (great story)
(1) Masquerading wisdom, a state that individuals like Mara exist in while trying to impede the Bodhisattva's path.[17]
From: Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Purvapranidhana Sutra
(1) A state of confusion or misunderstanding that leads beings to commit harmful actions, resulting in negative karma.[18]
From: Akshayamatinirdesha [english]
(1) The letter is teachings for beings who act out of passion, aversion, this or the three together; while the meaning is the imperturbable knowledge which is liberated thought.[19]
From: Lankavatara Sutra
(1) When the self-nature of existence is understood there is no need of keeping off this; no-birth is the self-nature of existence, seeing thus one is released.[20]
From: Dhammapada (Illustrated)
(1) Delusion refers to a state of ignorance or misunderstanding of reality, which needs to be overcome in order to gain penetrative understanding and live in accordance with the teachings.[21] (2) It is one of the negative emotions that monks aim to release through meditation, inspired by the observation of jasmine flowers.[22] (3) A state of ignorance that impairs an individual's understanding of welfare and leads to unwholesome actions.[23] (4) A state of misunderstanding or ignorance about the nature of reality, constituting a significant mental taint.[24]
From: A Manual of Abhidhamma
(1) Delusion, also known as moha, is a root of evil that clouds an object and blinds the mind, and can arise singly or in combination with attachment and ill-will.[25] (2) A type of ignorance that constitutes one of the three immoral roots.[26] (3) A mental state characterized by misconceptions that can adversely affect judgment and clarity of thought.[27] (4) A state of being misled or deceived, leading to a lack of understanding of reality.[28]
From: Maha Buddhavamsa—The Great Chronicle of Buddhas
(1) This refers to the lack of understanding that the Bodhisatta eliminated, which acted as a general of the army leading the hordes of defilements.[29] (2) A state of confusion or misunderstanding that arises from being under the influence of illusory perceptions and diffusing factors.[30] (3) The misunderstanding of reality that the Buddha's teachings aim to clarify and abolish.[31]
From: Patipada (path of practice)
(1) The investigation into the food in one's bowl, to see it as loathsome for the purpose of cutting away at the concern and delusion associated with taste.[32] (2) Delusion is described as a waking sleep, indicating a state of being unaware of the truth, which prevents progress on the path of samadhi and panna, and which is to be avoided.[33]
From: Visuddhimagga (the pah of purification)
(1) A false belief or judgment that persists despite evidence to the contrary.[34]
From: Milindapanha (questions of King Milinda)
(1) False beliefs or misconceptions that can be dispelled through the attainment of knowledge and wisdom, particularly regarding reality and existence.[35]
From: Abhidhamma in Daily Life (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa)
(1) Delusion, also known as moha, is identified as a lack of knowledge, categorized into two types: anusaya-moha, which is latent, and pariyutthana-moha, which arises with consciousness.[36]
From: Guide to Tipitaka
(1) A false belief or judgment that is firmly held despite contradictory evidence, often stemming from psychological or emotional factors.[37]
From: Tattvasangraha [with commentary]
(1) "Delusion" is mentioned as a possible influence that could affect a person's ability to understand the meaning of the Veda's words, suggesting that it can impair accurate interpretation.[38] (2) The possibility of delusion can undermine the reliability of an assertion, such as ‘the fat man eats not during the day’, preventing certain cognition from forming.[39] (3) Delusion is mentioned as a feeling, and the text implies that its origination cannot be attributed to wind, and there is no direct correlation between the feeling and any of the physical elements.[40] (4) A mistaken belief or perception that obscures the true nature of an object, resulting in false cognitions.[41] (5) A false belief or judgment that is held despite evidence to the contrary, often referring to a misunderstanding of reality.[42]
From: The Six Yogas of Naropa
(1) Misunderstandings or false perceptions about desires and pleasures; a reminder of the need for mental clarity.[43]
From: Apadana commentary (Atthakatha)
(1) It is also referred to as moha, and one is certainly free from it. Because he had become devoid of it, he is certainly free and thus he is one.[44] (2) The state described as 'blind folded by darkness' which obscured the understanding of beings and represents one of the three fires mentioned.[45] (3) A fundamental fault that acts as the origin of various other faults, influencing one's perceptions and actions.[46]
Hindu concept of 'Delusion'
In Hinduism, delusion is understood as a multifaceted false perception that obscures reality, leading to misunderstanding and misjudgment. It manifests as magical illusions, confusion, and ignorance, impacting spiritual clarity and moral responsibilities.
From: Yoga Vasistha [English], Volume 1-4
(1) Delusion refers to the perceived reality of the world, which is described as a phantom and a display of Providence.[47] (2) The act of delusion is presented within the context of senses, and it is one of the primary aspects of the provided text, indicating a false belief or perception.[48] (3) Misunderstandings that cloud perception and create false beliefs about one's identity, particularly the notion of mortality.[49] (4) A false belief or perception that conceals the truth, causing individuals to misinterpret the nature of reality.[50]
From: Mahabharata (English)
(1) The constantly moving and revolving cycle is enveloped in terrible waters of it. It is ever revolving and void of consciousness, according to the text.[51] (2) The state of confusion and misunderstanding resulting from sensory experiences, viewed as an impediment to true knowledge.[52] (3) A quality that is part of the Darkness category.[53]
From: Laghu-yoga-vasistha
(1) Delusion, as indicated, relates to the waking, dreaming, and dreamless states being unified, without one causing another, and it characterizes all things, existing or not, expanding infinitely.[54] (2) Samsaric delusion is associated with birth and deaths and is destroyed when the mind is purged of its impurities.[55] (3) Delusion is a state that Rama is in, and Vishvamitra wants to reveal the cause of, to help him attain his longed-for object and relieve his mental grief.[56]
From: Devi Bhagavata Purana
(1) Delusion, or Moha, is presented as an inescapable aspect of existence in Samsara, affecting even Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, and other Devas, as well as Rishis, causing them to be influenced by Maya.[57] (2) A state that indicates the presence of sin and must be purged to live free from it.[58]
From: Anugita (English translation)
(1) The state of being misled or deceived by perceptions linked to the senses and worldly life.[59]
From: Vishnu Purana
(1) The state of being misled or deceived, which Samvara uses in attempts to destroy Prahlada.[60]
From: Bhagavadgita
(1) Delusion is the taint that one's mind must cross beyond to become indifferent to what has been heard or will be heard, leading to devotion.[61]
From: Gautami Mahatmya
(1) A state of confusion or misunderstanding that can lead even learned men to act irrationally and unjustly.[62]
From: Vivekachudamani
(1) Delusion is a state in which the effects of the Buddhi, namely the knower and known, are observed to be unreal, along with dream and fancy.[63] (2) It is created by one's own mind, and the text suggests shaking it off to be free and illumined.[64] (3) It is the state of someone who claims the universe exists apart from Brahman.[65] (4) It signifies the state of wandering about due to the illusory nature of worldly pursuits.[66] (5) It describes a state of being deceived or misled, resulting in a distorted perception of reality and separation.[67]
From: Mandukya Upanishad
(1) These individuals work earnestly to understand duality, pondering time, space, theories concerning scriptures, and realms, which delays realization.[68] (2) Deluded describes those who are misled by their attachments to separate identities and concepts, failing to realize the underlying unity of existence.[69]
From: Ashtavakra Gita
(1) According to the text, delusion is something that has afflicted the speaker, and from which they are now free, suggesting that delusion is a state of misunderstanding or misperception about reality.[70] (2) It becomes dream-like through awareness, suggesting a state of unreality or misperception that is dispelled by true understanding.[71]
From: Taittiriya Upanishad Bhashya Vartika
(1) The false impression or misunderstanding that leads a person to regard the body as a reflection of their true self.[72]
From: Thirty minor Upanishads
(1) A state of confusion or misunderstanding about the true nature of reality.[73]
From: Taittiriya Upanishad
(1) The false belief that leads to misidentification with the physical body, obscuring the realization of one's true nature as Brahman.[74]
From: Prem Sagar (English translation)
(1) The state of Nanda Jee's mind, wherein he perceives Krishna merely as his son.[75] (2) The magical illusion created by Krishna to transport the cowherds' children and their cows safely into a fig tree forest.[76] (3) A magical illusion created by Shri Krishna to confuse Brahma regarding the true nature of the cowherds' children and calves.[77] (4) The misunderstanding and limited perception Yashoda has about Krishna's true form and identity.[78]
From: Sri Krishna-Chaitanya
(1) Delusions are considered to be the realm of treatment and cure, serving to perpetuate the misguided idea of the world's wholesome nature and its concern for atheists' correctness through difficult experiences, according to the text provided.[79] (2) A state in which individuals mistakenly perceive reality, leading them to misunderstand their relationship with Krishna.[80]
From: Bhajana-Rahasya
(1) A state of confusion or misunderstanding, considered one of the six enemies that detracts from clarity in spiritual pursuits.[81]
From: Charaka Samhita (English translation)
(1) "Delusion", desire, and hate impel behaviour, which springs from action, leading to egoism, attachment, doubt, vain-glory, wrong identification, wrong judgement, absence of discrimination, and the wrong means.[82] (2) Delusion is one of the premonitory symptoms of epilepsy, as described in the provided text.[83] (3) The state of being misled, which can be avoided through wisdom and anatomical knowledge.[84]
From: Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences
(1) This is a symptom of poisoning, and is included in Agneyaloota Vishaja Laxanas.[85]
From: International Research Journal of Ayurveda and Yoga
(1) It is a false belief that is not based on reality.[86]
From: Yoga-sutras (with Bhoja’s Rajamartanda)
(1) Delusion is characterized by accepting something as the soul which is not the soul, and is considered the root cause of all faults, preceding actions.[87] (2) A misinterpretation or faulty perception that arises from the influence of the observer's thinking principles and emotional states.[88]
From: Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi
(1) Refers to a state of mind that can result in false testimony, stemming from misinterpretation or mistaken beliefs.[89] (2) The state of misunderstanding or misinterpreting Dharma, often resulting in wrongful actions.[90]
Jain concept of 'Delusion'
In Jainism, delusion is seen as a significant obstacle to spiritual progress, characterized by distorted perceptions, false beliefs, and ignorance about life's impermanence, ultimately hindering enlightenment and leading to attachment, suffering, and confusion.
From: Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra
(1) A state of being misled or deceived, eradicated at a specific stage of spiritual development, marking a significant advancement.[91] (2) A state of mind that the King experienced, originating in the destruction of his sons, alongside enlightenment.[92] (3) The state of being deceived or misled, which caused Kapila to come to earth.[93] (4) A state of misunderstanding or ignorance about the transitory nature of life, recognized as an enemy to spiritual progress in the insights shared by the munis.[94] (5) A state that Jamali experienced, leading him to separate from the teachings of the Blessed One.[95]
From: Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)
(1) This refers to the moha which is destroyed first and leads to the soul's purification and the elimination of deluding karmas through various spiritual stages, paving the way for omniscience.[96] (2) A state of being misled or confused, which may lead to the occurrence of transgressions.[97] (3) The self that is misled by karma, especially due to false belief.[98] (4) A state of mind that can cause one to speak falsehoods and disrupt domestic harmony.[99]
From: Uttaradhyayana Sutra
(1) A false belief or impression that can cloud judgment and lead one away from the truth.[100] (2) A state of misjudgment or ignorance that prevents individuals from recognizing the truth of their actions and existence.[101] (3) Misconceptions or false beliefs that cloud judgment and hinder spiritual progress.[102]
From: Acaranga-sutra
(1) A misunderstanding or misperception of reality that leads to ignorance and suffering.[103] (2) A state of being misled by false beliefs or attachments, preventing individuals from achieving true understanding or liberation.[104]
From: Sutrakritanga (English translation)
(1) A distorted perception of reality, often leading individuals away from the path of enlightenment, characterized by ignorance or misunderstanding.[105]
From: Naladiyar
(1) This is something that medicine, like learning, destroys.[106]
The concept of Delusion in local and regional sources
Delusion encompasses beliefs contrary to reality, impacting perceptions of freedom and bondage. It stems from emotional distress and can lead to misery through misconceptions, such as identifying with the body, obscuring true knowledge and understanding.
From: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
(1) These are brought before individuals by the mind, encompassing concepts such as body, sex, creed, caste, and bondage, requiring constant reaffirmation of truth.[107] (2) Devotion to duty is a significant source of help in enlightening and freeing the misled and ignorance-encumbered souls of the Baddhas, highlighting the transformative power of dedicated service to others who are deluded.[108] (3) This is the delusion "I am the body", and after getting rid of it, we can want real knowledge.[109] (4) The idea of freedom and the idea of bondage, can both be seen as a delusion, depending on the perspective, as stated in the text.[110] (5) Delusion is a belief that is held despite being contradicted by reality, and the agnostic says that the idea of freedom is a delusion.[111]
From: Triveni Journal
(1) It is a state that can occur when trouble comes in bundles, leading a person to rely on God for guidance.[112] (2) This is a belief or perception that is not based in reality, often resulting from mental or emotional distress.[113] (3) The false perception that arises from misunderstanding the relationship between cause and effect, according to Blake's interpretation of life.[114] (4) Delusion is related to indulging in falsehoods, contrasting with the relative truths of Maaya.[115]
The concept of Delusion in scientific sources
Delusion encompasses fixed false beliefs, often seen in schizophrenia, manifesting as symptoms like paranoia or grandiosity. These beliefs persist despite contradicting evidence, contributing to anxiety and distress, and are linked to various mental health conditions.
From: The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
(1) This is a psychotic manifestation, where the quantum field is more affected than the electromagnetic field.[116] (2) A false belief that is strongly held, particularly seen in her unrealistic thoughts about relationships with her mentor and WF.[117]
From: South African Family Practice
(1) Delusions are fixed false beliefs that can be bizarre or non-bizarre, and are categorized according to the content, such as paranoid, grandiose, and religious delusions.[118] (2) This is a symptom of schizophrenia, and can cause considerable distress and anxiety, and it is a positive symptom of schizophrenia, and is rated for its current severity.[119]
From: International Journal of Pharmacology
(1) Delusions are false beliefs that individuals with schizophrenia may experience, representing a significant symptom of the disorder.[120] (2) Delusions are false beliefs that are firmly held despite evidence to the contrary, and cannabis use has been linked to more severe psychosis, including delusions.[121]
From: Asian Journal of Pharmaceutics
(1) These are symptoms of schizophrenia, representing false beliefs that are not based in reality, and can impact behavior.[122]
From: Religions Journal (MDPI)
(1) It is cleared like the sun clears the coldness of the night, showcasing a process of mental purification and clarity.[123] (2) The clouds of cover up nature, and it prevents one from seeing it. The varieties of the Buddha’s teaching are in order to benefit those who are experiencing this.[124] (3) Joy and hope might rather serve to increase the devastation of the tragedy’s final e ff ect.[125] (4) These obscure dharma-nature, and are maintained once a conceptual representation of reality is associated with it instead of recognizing its true emptiness.[126]
From: Religious Inquiries (Journal)
(1) Delusions produce karma and bind one to the mundane cycle of rebirth, leading to desires, or grasping at phenomena, and are considered a side effect of these grasping tendencies.[127]
From: South African Journal of Psychiatry
(1) Delusions are considered in the context of schizophrenia, with a re-evaluation of the phenomenology of the disorder to understand their formation.[128] (2) These are fixed false beliefs that are not based on reality, and the study explores their association with suicide risk and other mental health issues in schizophrenia.[129]
From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI)
(1) It is a side effect that was covered in 4 videos.[130] (2) "Delusions", anxiety, and abnormal behaviors in patients were particularly distressing to caregivers, increasing their levels of stress and highlighting the challenges of dementia care.[131]