The Four Defects Every Person Has

The root cause of all our misconceptions is egoism. Under its influence we are often convinced that modern scientific methods are flawless tools for understanding the laws of the universe. We firmly believe in human reason, in the might of technology, and in the power of progress. Yet the Vedas say that every person is, to one degree or another, subject to four defects. These defects are weaknesses which, once we recognize them, make life easier, because they help us rely less on our own mind and abilities. Such humility opens the way to true knowledge about how the world is ordered and what life is for, since that knowledge is given only to the humble.

The first defect

In Sanskrit it is called bhrama, which literally translates as “error.” Two kinds of such errors are distinguished: fundamental and secondary.

The fundamental error is a wrong perception of our own nature, that is, of our true self. Although we are eternal spiritual beings, we mistakenly identify ourselves with the temporary body and take it for something permanent. Life passes in the illusion that death can be avoided, but in the end death inevitably comes, and we are the losers. The constant fear of death keeps us from grasping a simple truth: only the body passes away, while the soul remains imperishable. Our real self is immortal and goes on existing even after physical death.

Notice the word “identification.” For example, a teenager absorbed in a computer game starts dodging virtual bullets without thinking, moving about in front of the screen. Why does this happen? Because he associates himself with the character, although in fact this is not so. In the same way, we perceive our body as our true self. This is precisely the deep-seated delusion known in the Vedas as fundamental bhrama (error).

Secondary errors can be compared to illusions or deceptive perceptions. These are cases when something that does not actually exist seems real to us. A good example is the color of the sky. We know that in space it is black, yet on a sunny day it looks blue. Even though we know this, our brain goes on perceiving it as blue. This is because nature has built certain mechanisms of perception into us, and they shape our picture of the world.

Another example: at dusk a person may mistake a stick lying on the ground for a snake. But on looking more closely, they realize their mistake and see that it is just a stick. This is how illusions and mirages work—they deceive our senses and make us perceive the unreal as real.

The second defect

In Sanskrit this flaw is called pramada, which means “inattentiveness.” There is not a single person in the world who is perfectly attentive. Each of us is subject to this defect, because we are under the influence of the material energies and the laws of nature.

Yogis attach special importance to developing attentiveness. They believe that if a person learns to concentrate, it will be easier for them to advance on the spiritual path and to perceive the truth as it is.

The third defect

In Sanskrit it is called vipralipsa—“the tendency to deceive oneself and others.” We often think our opinion is objective, but in reality we fit the facts to our own emotions, views, and convictions.

Emotions play a key role here. They distort our perception of reality. For example, a girl going through a breakup with her boyfriend begins to hate everything connected with him: his new partner, his friends, his favorite music. To her, he is a bad person. Meanwhile, to his new girlfriend he is, on the contrary, a wonderful guy. One and the same person is perceived by different people in completely opposite ways—and all because of emotions.

Even scientists who conduct research remain ordinary people. They are subject to the same feelings and biases as everyone else. Their judgments are often shaped by personal interests, ambition, and social pressure. The British biochemist Rupert Sheldrake noted: “Studies have shown that in everyday life scientists behave just like other people. They depend on public opinion, competition, and financial and political factors.” Because of this, even the scientific community is prone to distorting the truth.

The more a person lies—to themselves or to others—the harder it is for them to perceive reality as it is.

The fourth defect

This flaw is called karanapatava, and it is connected with the limitations of our senses. The human eye does not perceive radio waves and cannot see in the dark. The ear hears only within a certain range of frequencies. All the senses have limits, which means they cannot give us absolute knowledge of the world.

That is why logic and the scientific method are not perfect instruments of knowledge. Vedic scholars do not reject science, but they hold that its conclusions cannot be final.

A simple example is the attempt to grasp the concepts of infinity and eternity. Try to imagine the edge of the universe. What lies beyond it? Another edge? And beyond that one? Or take time: if everything has a beginning, what was there before it? These questions have no logical answer, because the human mind is limited by logic. It thinks within the bounds of logic, but reality goes beyond those bounds.

True knowledge cannot be gained by logic alone. But by following Vedic principles—cultivating humility, patience, and compassion—a person purifies their consciousness, and the truth reveals itself to them naturally. Different traditions call this “revelation,” or the state of samadhi.

So where should we look for the truth?

The Vedanta-sutra, one of the principal Vedic texts, states that the truth should be sought in the Vedas, since they are not a product of the human mind. The Vedas are free from the four defects and give an objective picture of the world. The scientific method and logic are useful tools, but they cannot be the sole criterion of truth. Vedic science includes them in the process of knowing, but gives them a secondary place.

It is impossible to understand the world and oneself without developing virtues. If a person relies on reason alone and does not purify their heart, they risk becoming even more confused. True knowledge comes only to one who walks the path of spiritual growth and also follows a true spiritual master.

Once we understand that every person has these four defects, we can learn to look soberly at life and at the latest news in science, culture, and politics. We can stop blindly believing everyone and start consciously choosing which information to let into our lives and which to keep out. And so as not to make mistakes ourselves, it is better to trust Vedic knowledge and the perfect personalities who spread it. After all, they do not belong to this material world, and so they are not subject to these four defects.