Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c16.179

c16.179

2. '**Viparyaya**'. *Viparyaya* is illusory perception, "like the mistaking of a rope for a serpent or shell for silver." The mind is prone to both *viparyaya* and *saṁśaya*, misconception and misgivings. The difference between the two is that while the former starts with a sense of certainty of knowledge which is later corrected, the latter starts with a doubt about its position. The causes of such misconception are stated to be five: avidyā (undifferentiated consciousness), asmitā (sense of self-hood), rāga (passion), dvesha (hatred), and abhiniveśa (attachment to life, the will to live).