The Buddha describes how wrong view leads to unwholesome qualities and suffering, while right view leads to wholesome qualities and happiness and what kind of attention fuels what kind of view.

PTS 1.30–1.32

AN 1.306–315 Dutiya vagga - The Chapter on One Thing (Second)

1.306

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena anuppannā vā akusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā vā akusalā dhammā bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattanti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, micchādiṭṭhi. Micchādiṭṭhikassa, bhikkhave, anuppannā ceva akusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā ca akusalā dhammā bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattantī”ti.

“I do not see even a single thing on account of which unarisen unwholesome qualities arise and arisen unwholesome qualities increase and expand as wrong view. For one with wrong view, unarisen unwholesome qualities arise and arisen unwholesome qualities increase and expand.”

1.307

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena anuppannā vā kusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā vā kusalā dhammā bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattanti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, sammādiṭṭhi. Sammādiṭṭhikassa, bhikkhave, anuppannā ceva kusalā dhammā uppajjanti uppannā ca kusalā dhammā bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattantī”ti.

“I do not see even a single thing on account of which unarisen wholesome qualities arise and arisen wholesome qualities increase and expand as right view. For one with right view, unarisen wholesome qualities arise and arisen wholesome qualities increase and expand.”

1.308

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena anuppannā vā kusalā dhammā nuppajjanti uppannā vā kusalā dhammā parihāyanti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, micchādiṭṭhi. Micchādiṭṭhikassa, bhikkhave, anuppannā ceva kusalā dhammā nuppajjanti uppannā ca kusalā dhammā parihāyantī”ti.

“I do not see even a single thing on account of which unarisen wholesome qualities do not arise and arisen wholesome qualities decline as wrong view. For one with wrong view, unarisen wholesome qualities do not arise and arisen wholesome qualities decline.”

1.309

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena anuppannā vā akusalā dhammā nuppajjanti uppannā vā akusalā dhammā parihāyanti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, sammādiṭṭhi. Sammādiṭṭhikassa, bhikkhave, anuppannā ceva akusalā dhammā nuppajjanti uppannā ca akusalā dhammā parihāyantī”ti.

“I do not see even a single thing on account of which unarisen unwholesome qualities do not arise and arisen unwholesome qualities decline as right view. For one with right view, unarisen unwholesome qualities do not arise and arisen unwholesome qualities decline.”

1.310

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena anuppannā vā micchādiṭṭhi uppajjati uppannā vā micchādiṭṭhi pavaḍḍhati yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, ayonisomanasikāro. Ayoniso, bhikkhave, manasi karoto anuppannā ceva micchādiṭṭhi uppajjati uppannā ca micchādiṭṭhi pavaḍḍhatī”ti.

“I do not see even a single thing on account of which unarisen wrong view arises and arisen wrong view grows as superficial attention. For one who attends superficially, unarisen wrong view arises and arisen wrong view grows.”

1.311

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena anuppannā vā sammādiṭṭhi uppajjati uppannā vā sammādiṭṭhi pavaḍḍhati yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, yonisomanasikāro. Yoniso, bhikkhave, manasi karoto anuppannā ceva sammādiṭṭhi uppajjati uppannā ca sammādiṭṭhi pavaḍḍhatī”ti.

“I do not see even a single thing on account of which unarisen right view arises and arisen right view grows as radical attention. For one who attends radically, unarisen right view arises and arisen right view grows.”

1.312

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ uppajjanti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, micchādiṭṭhi. Micchādiṭṭhiyā, bhikkhave, samannāgatā sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ uppajjantī”ti.

“I do not see even a single thing on account of which with the breaking up of the body after death, beings arise in a state of misery, a bad destination, a lower realm, in hell, as wrong view. Beings who are possessed of wrong view, with the breaking up of the body after death, arise in a state of misery, a bad destination, a lower realm, in hell.”

1.313

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yena sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ uppajjanti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, sammādiṭṭhi. Sammādiṭṭhiyā, bhikkhave, samannāgatā sattā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ uppajjantī”ti.

“I do not see even a single thing on account of which with the breaking up of the body after death, beings arise in a good destination, in the heavenly world, as right view. Beings who are possessed of right view, with the breaking up of the body after death, arise in a good destination, in the heavenly world.”

1.314

“Micchādiṭṭhikassa, bhikkhave, purisapuggalassa yañceva kāyakammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yañca vacīkammaṁ …pe… yañca manokammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yā ca cetanā yā ca patthanā yo ca paṇidhi ye ca saṅkhārā sabbe te dhammā aniṭṭhāya akantāya amanāpāya ahitāya dukkhāya saṁvattanti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Diṭṭhi hissa, bhikkhave, pāpikā.

“In the case of a person with wrong view, whatever bodily action is adopted and undertaken in line with that view, whatever verbal action and whatever mental action is adopted and undertaken in line with that view, along with whatever intention, wish, aspiration, and intentional constructs—all these states lead to what is unwished for, unpleasant, disagreeable, unbeneficial, and unsatisfactory. For what reason? Because that view is bad.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, nimbabījaṁ vā kosātakibījaṁ vā tittakālābubījaṁ vā allāya pathaviyā nikkhittaṁ yañceva pathavirasaṁ upādiyati yañca āporasaṁ upādiyati sabbaṁ taṁ tittakattāya kaṭukattāya asātattāya saṁvattati. Taṁ kissa hetu? Bījañhissa, bhikkhave, pāpakaṁ.

Suppose a seed of neem, a seed of bitter cucumber, or a seed of bitter gourd were planted in moist soil. Whatever nutrients it absorbs from the soil and from the water, all lead to its bitter, pungent, and unappealing taste. For what reason? Because that seed is bad.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, micchādiṭṭhikassa purisapuggalassa yañceva kāyakammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yañca vacīkammaṁ …pe… yañca manokammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yā ca cetanā yā ca patthanā yo ca paṇidhi ye ca saṅkhārā sabbe te dhammā aniṭṭhāya akantāya amanāpāya ahitāya dukkhāya saṁvattanti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Diṭṭhi hissa, bhikkhave, pāpikā”ti.

In the same way, in the case of a person with wrong view, whatever bodily action is adopted and undertaken in line with that view, whatever verbal action and whatever mental action is adopted and undertaken in line with that view, along with whatever intention, wish, aspiration, and intentional constructs—all these states lead to what is unwished for, unpleasant, disagreeable, unbeneficial, and unsatisfactory. For what reason? Because that view is bad.”

1.315

“Sammādiṭṭhikassa, bhikkhave, purisapuggalassa yañceva kāyakammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yañca vacīkammaṁ …pe… yañca manokammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yā ca cetanā yā ca patthanā yo ca paṇidhi ye ca saṅkhārā sabbe te dhammā iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṁvattanti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Diṭṭhi hissa, bhikkhave, bhaddikā.

“In the case of a person with right view, whatever bodily action is adopted and undertaken in line with that view, whatever verbal action and whatever mental action is adopted and undertaken in line with that view, along with whatever intention, wish, aspiration, and intentional constructs—all these states lead to what is wished for, pleasant, agreeable, beneficial, and happiness. For what reason? Because that view is good.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ucchubījaṁ vā sālibījaṁ vā muddikābījaṁ vā allāya pathaviyā nikkhittaṁ yañceva pathavirasaṁ upādiyati yañca āporasaṁ upādiyati sabbaṁ taṁ madhurattāya sātattāya asecanakattāya saṁvattati. Taṁ kissa hetu? Bījaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, bhaddakaṁ.

Suppose a seed of sugarcane, a seed of rice, or a seed of grape were planted in moist soil. Whatever nutrients it absorbs from the soil and from the water, all lead to its sweet, disagreeable, and delicious taste. For what reason? Because that seed is good.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, sammādiṭṭhikassa purisapuggalassa yañceva kāyakammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yañca vacīkammaṁ …pe… yañca manokammaṁ yathādiṭṭhi samattaṁ samādinnaṁ yā ca cetanā yā ca patthanā yo ca paṇidhi ye ca saṅkhārā sabbe te dhammā iṭṭhāya kantāya manāpāya hitāya sukhāya saṁvattanti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Diṭṭhi hissa, bhikkhave, bhaddikā”ti.

In the same way, in the case of a person with right view, whatever bodily action is adopted and undertaken in line with that view, whatever verbal action and whatever mental action is adopted and undertaken in line with that view, along with whatever intention, wish, aspiration, and intentional constructs—all these states lead to what is wished for, pleasant, agreeable, beneficial, and happiness. For what reason? Because that view is good.”

Topics & Qualities:

Intentional Constructs

Intentional Constructs

Intentional constructs are intentions, volitions, and choices expressed through body, speech, and mind. These are the kamma-producing processes that ‘fabricate’ experience. It is the fourth of the five aggregates.

Also known as: volitional formations, fabrications
Pāli: saṅkhāra
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Radical attention

Radical attention

The active, deliberate steering of the mind away from habitual, automated reaction patterns. It is the wise steering of attention based on a theme of the Dhamma.

Also known as: wise steering of attention, root-level attention, attention to the structural source, contextual reflection
Pāli: yonisomanasikāra
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Right view

Right view

View that is in line with the Dhamma — teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth.

Also known as: right understanding, right belief, view that is inline with the Dhamma
Pāli: sammādiṭṭhi
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Superficial attention

Superficial attention

The passive, automatic drifting of the mind into habitual, automated reaction patterns. It is the unskillful steering of attention based on the enticing or repulsive surface features of an object.

Also known as: unwise steering of attention, content-bound reflection
Pāli: ayonisomanasikāra
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Wrong view

Wrong view

A distorted understanding that sees permanence in the impermanent, satisfaction in the unsatisfactory, or self in the not-self. Wrong view guides action by delusion, obscuring cause and effect, and closes the door to wisdom and release.

Also known as: distorted or inverted perception, untrue view, false belief
Pāli: micchādiṭṭhi
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Last updated on October 17, 2026

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