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Monks, there are these four perversions of perception, perversions of mind, perversions of view. Which four? ‘Constant’ with regard to the inconstant is a perversion of perception, a perversion of mind, a perversion of view. ‘Pleasant’ with regard to the stressful… ‘Self’ with regard to not-self… ‘Attractive’ with regard to the unattractive is a perversion of perception, a perversion of mind, a perversion of view. These are the four perversions of perception, perversions of mind, perversions of view.

AN 4.49

I guess the word 'perception' is often used as 'wrong view' ('discriminative thinking') not because wrong view is inherently a perception but, because, wrong view involves the non-perception of impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, not-self & loathsomeness.

Therefore, Buddhist scriptures may use terms such as 'perception of self' to serve as a direct explanatory opposite/contrast to the awakened state of 'perception of not-self'. However, the 'perception of self' is not really a 'perception' but, instead, a conceptual thought, as described in SN 22.81:

Mendicants, there are these four perversions of perception, mind, and view. What four? Taking impermanence as permanence. Taking suffering as happiness. Taking not-self as self. Taking ugliness as beauty.

AN 4.49

I guess the word 'perception' is often used as 'wrong view' ('discriminative thinking') not because wrong view is inherently a perception but, because, wrong view involves the non-perception of impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, not-self & ugliness.

Therefore, Buddhist scriptures may use terms such as 'perception of self' to serve as direct explanatory opposite contrasts to the awakened state of 'perception of not-self'. However, the 'perception of self' is not really a 'perception' but, instead, a conceptual thought, as described in SN 22.81:

In other words, impermanence, unsatisfactoriness & not-self are direct perceptions however the ordinary person never perceives these realities. Thus, it is like the ordinary person is 'perceiving' permanence, pleasurableness & self because their perception of say 'a computer' is underlain with a view the computer is real & solid (rather than impermanence, etc).

1. Impermanence, unsatisfactoriness & not-self are direct perceptions.

2. Permanence, pleasurableness & self are ultimately discriminative thinking born from not perceiving their opposite negating truths.

Therefore, Buddhist scriptures may use terms such as 'perception of self' to serve as a direct explanatory opposite to the awakened state of 'perception of not-self'. However, the 'perception of self' is not really a 'perception' but, instead, a conceptual thought, as described in SN 22.81:

In other words, impermanence, unsatisfactoriness & not-self are direct perceptions however the ordinary person never perceives these realities. Thus, it is like the ordinary person is 'perceiving' permanence, pleasurableness & self because their perception of say 'a computer' is underlain with a view the computer is real & solid (rather than impermanent).

1. Impermanence, unsatisfactoriness & not-self are direct perceptions.

2. Permanence, pleasurableness & self are ultimately discriminative conceptual thinking born from not perceiving their opposite negating truths.

Therefore, Buddhist scriptures may use terms such as 'perception of self' to serve as a direct explanatory opposite/contrast to the awakened state of 'perception of not-self'. However, the 'perception of self' is not really a 'perception' but, instead, a conceptual thought, as described in SN 22.81:

There is the case where an uninstructed, run-of-the-mill person — who has no regard for noble ones, is not well-versed or disciplined in their Dhamma; who has no regard for men of integrity, is not well-versed or disciplined in their Dhamma — assumes form to be the self. That assumption is a fabrication. Now what is the cause, what is the origination, what is the birth, what is the coming-into-existence of that fabrication? To an uninstructed, run-of-the-mill person, touched by that which is felt born of contact with ignorance, craving arises. That fabrication is born of that.

SN 22.81

The Lankavatara Sutra exists in both the Chinese & Tibetan languages. Regardless, in the Pali language, the word translated as 'perception', namely, 'sanna', is used in ways describing:

1. Direct perception, such as:

And why, bhikkhus, do you call it perception? ‘It perceives,’ bhikkhus, therefore it is called perception. And what does it perceive? It perceives blue, it perceives yellow, it perceives red, it perceives white. ‘It perceives,’ bhikkhus, therefore it is called perception.

SN 22.79

2. Conceptual thoughts/discriminative thinking or wrong views, such as:

Monks, there are these four perversions of perception, perversions of mind, perversions of view. Which four? ‘Constant’ with regard to the inconstant is a perversion of perception, a perversion of mind, a perversion of view. ‘Pleasant’ with regard to the stressful… ‘Self’ with regard to not-self… ‘Attractive’ with regard to the unattractive is a perversion of perception, a perversion of mind, a perversion of view. These are the four perversions of perception, perversions of mind, perversions of view.

AN 4.49

3. A mixture of direct perception & discriminative thinking, such as:

If, Ānanda, you visit the bhikkhu Girimānanda and speak to him about ten perceptions, it is possible that on hearing about them his affliction will immediately subside. What are the ten? (1) The perception of impermanence, (2) the perception of non-self, (3) the perception of unattractiveness, (4) the perception of danger, (5) the perception of abandoning, (6) the perception of dispassion, (7) the perception of cessation, (8) the perception of non-delight in the entire world, (9) the perception of impermanence in all conditioned phenomena, and (10) mindfulness of breathing.

AN 10.60

While merely a translation, the following excerpt translation from the Lankavatara Sutra shows 'perception' as conceptual thought or discriminative thinking:

And because of this, they will transcend the sea of birth and death, karma, desire, and ignorance and the mistaken conceptions concerning the realms of self-existence of the mind, the will, and conceptual consciousness that are perceptions of their own minds. This is why, Mahamati, practitioners should draw near to buddhas and spiritual friends.

Lankavatara Sutra by Red Pine

I guess the word 'perception' is often used as 'wrong view' ('discriminative thinking') not because wrong view is inherently a perception but, because, wrong view involves the non-perception of impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, no-self & loathsomeness.

In other words, impermanence, unsatisfactoriness & not-self are direct perceptions however the ordinary person never perceives these realities. Thus, it is like the ordinary person is 'perceiving' permanence, pleasurableness & self because their perception of say 'a computer' is underlain with a view the computer is real & solid (rather than impermanence, etc).

In summary:

1. Impermanence, unsatisfactoriness & not-self are direct perceptions.

2. Permanence, pleasurableness & self are ultimately discriminative thinking born from not perceiving their opposite negating truths.

The Lankavatara Sutra exists in both the Chinese & Tibetan languages. Regardless, in the Pali language, the word translated as 'perception', namely, 'sanna', is used in ways describing:

1. Direct perception, such as:

And why, bhikkhus, do you call it perception? ‘It perceives,’ bhikkhus, therefore it is called perception. And what does it perceive? It perceives blue, it perceives yellow, it perceives red, it perceives white. ‘It perceives,’ bhikkhus, therefore it is called perception.

SN 22.79

2. Conceptual thoughts/discriminative thinking or wrong views, such as:

Monks, there are these four perversions of perception, perversions of mind, perversions of view. Which four? ‘Constant’ with regard to the inconstant is a perversion of perception, a perversion of mind, a perversion of view. ‘Pleasant’ with regard to the stressful… ‘Self’ with regard to not-self… ‘Attractive’ with regard to the unattractive is a perversion of perception, a perversion of mind, a perversion of view. These are the four perversions of perception, perversions of mind, perversions of view.

AN 4.49

3. A mixture of direct perception & discriminative thinking, such as:

If, Ānanda, you visit the bhikkhu Girimānanda and speak to him about ten perceptions, it is possible that on hearing about them his affliction will immediately subside. What are the ten? (1) The perception of impermanence, (2) the perception of non-self, (3) the perception of unattractiveness, (4) the perception of danger, (5) the perception of abandoning, (6) the perception of dispassion, (7) the perception of cessation, (8) the perception of non-delight in the entire world, (9) the perception of impermanence in all conditioned phenomena, and (10) mindfulness of breathing.

AN 10.60

While merely a translation, the following excerpt translation from the Lankavatara Sutra shows 'perception' as conceptual thought or discriminative thinking:

And because of this, they will transcend the sea of birth and death, karma, desire, and ignorance and the mistaken conceptions concerning the realms of self-existence of the mind, the will, and conceptual consciousness that are perceptions of their own minds. This is why, Mahamati, practitioners should draw near to buddhas and spiritual friends.

Lankavatara Sutra by Red Pine

I guess the word 'perception' is often used as 'wrong view' ('discriminative thinking') not because wrong view is inherently a perception but, because, wrong view involves the non-perception of impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, not-self & loathsomeness.

In other words, impermanence, unsatisfactoriness & not-self are direct perceptions however the ordinary person never perceives these realities. Thus, it is like the ordinary person is 'perceiving' permanence, pleasurableness & self because their perception of say 'a computer' is underlain with a view the computer is real & solid (rather than impermanence, etc).

In summary:

1. Impermanence, unsatisfactoriness & not-self are direct perceptions.

2. Permanence, pleasurableness & self are ultimately discriminative thinking born from not perceiving their opposite negating truths.

Therefore, Buddhist scriptures may use terms such as 'perception of self' to serve as a direct explanatory opposite to the awakened state of 'perception of not-self'. However, the 'perception of self' is not really a 'perception' but, instead, a conceptual thought, as described in SN 22.81: