noun
delusive thought; obstructive thought; conviction based on flawed ideas
Buddhist term for a persistent, mistaken belief or delusion that obstructs enlightenment. In modern contexts, it can refer to any stubborn, irrational conviction.
妄念を捨てて、心を静めることが修行の第一歩だ。
Letting go of delusive thoughts and calming the mind is the first step of training.
彼は自分が正しいという妄念にとらわれている。
He is possessed by the delusion that he is right.
Compound of 妄 (もう, 'delusion, reckless') and 念 (ねん, 'thought, mindfulness'). The term is rooted in Buddhist philosophy, where it denotes a thought that arises from ignorance and leads one away from truth.