The four inverted views (四顛倒 - Sanskrit: viparyasa, Pali: vipallasa) are described in the Numerical Discourses of the Buddha (Section 4, Sutta 49:9). These are given as distortions or ‘inversions’ of perception (想 saṁjñā), mind (心 citta), and views (見 dṛṣṭi) in terms of:
1. Regarding impermanent phenomena (anicca) as permanent (常). 2. Regarding phenomena as having self (我) when they have no self (anattā). 3. Regarding unpleasant (dukkha 苦) phenomena as pleasant (樂 sukkha) 4. Regarding un-lovely (asubha) phenomena as lovely (or ‘pure’ 淨).
What are called ‘heretics’ believe in permanence 常, pleasure 樂, self 我, and purity 淨;
The two Hīnayāna vehicles deny these both regarding Samsara and Nirvāṇa.
Mahāyāna denies them regarding samsara, but asserts them regarding Nirvāṇa.
The Bodhisattva considers those the ‘Eight Inverted Views’ 八顚倒
In order to destroy these four mistakes (viparyāsa), the Buddha preached the four foundations of mindfulness:
- to destroy the mistake about purity (śuciviparyāsa), he preaches the foundation of mindfulness on the body (kāya-smṛtyupasthāna);
- to destroy the mistake on happiness (sukhaviparyāsa), he preaches the foundation of mindfulness on feelings (vedanā-smṛtyupasthāna);
- to destroy the mistake on permanence (nityaviparyāsa), he preaches mindfulness on the mind (citta-smṛtyupasthāna);
- to destroy the mistake on the self (ātmaviparyāsa), he preaches the foundation of mindfulness on dharmas (dharma-smṛtyupasthāna).