Ultimately, the reason we are trapped in a suffering condition is because we hold tightly to our views about the world. At a certain point, we have no choice but to admit that we are suffering so, logically, this means that there is something wrong with our views. If our view of reality was correct, we would be happy all the time. Once we accept that our views must be wrong, we are ready to start the process of correcting them.
In the Sammaditthi Sutta (The Discourse on Right View) (MN 9 — Ñanamoli Thera & Bhikkhu Bodhi), Ven. Sariputta, one of the Buddha’s famous disciples, gives us a description of what exactly we mean when we refer to “right view.” Generally speaking, Sariputta describes right view from the position of what kind of views will lead us to enlightenment and what kind of views will lead us to suffering. This is a typical feature of the Buddhist teaching because it is centered very narrowly on what information we need in order to liberate ourselves from the yokes of suffering. Sariputta describes the specific kinds of views that are right and wrong in relation various categories such as the four noble truths, aging and death, birth, being, clinging, craving, feeling and consciousness.
When we take this information, we can realize that right view is all about our approach to achieving satisfaction. Any view that leads us toward continued craving rather than satisfaction is considered wrong and any view that leads us towards satisfaction is considered right. How then can we embark on the path of acquiring right view? We must bring our views into the light of day through insight meditation. Once our views are exposed to us plainly, we can observe them and how they influence us. Once we do this, we will immediately know for ourselves whether they are right or wrong.
The only view, therefore, which we need to correct immediately is the view that ignores the importance of insight meditation in the road to lasting happiness. The way to correct that view is to simply begin to practice insight meditation with a teacher who can provide you feedback on whether your practice is challenging your views or not. That is why when we practice we need to practice with a teacher because the whole process of meditation requires us to be open to seeing the world with a different view, an acknowledgement that our own views are necessarily incorrect. As we progress with meditation, we see that the practice is centered on gradually increasing our humility and reducing our ego. When the ego is reduced our mind is then free to experience happiness.