What is ignorance?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Joseph Faria on -
In my limited understanding, Ignorance is any holding onto an absolutist/fixed view of things. This view is commonly referred to as "dualistic" or "extreme". One should not see things as being either one or the other. This is why the Madhyamaka philosophy was developed, the school of the "Middle Way". This school proposes that any fixed view should be eradicated with emptiness, the realization that all things lack independent existence. So things are neither high nor low, big nor small, black nor white. Nagarjuna said that even dwelling in "the middle" is a fixed view, so therefore we should not hold any presuppositions whatsoever. Likewise, Buddha Shakyamuni says in the Pali Canon that even a man who claims to be equal to all others is holding onto a fixed view that needs to be dispelled. And since Ignorance is the first link in the 12 links of interdependent origination, if we free ourselves from ignorance we will be free from the sufferings of Cyclic existence. This is why Je Tsongkhapa says that the root of suffering needs to be cut out with the sword of wisdom.
Of course, a mere intellectual understanding of this is not sufficient to set ourselves free from suffering, which is unfortunately all I have gained!! The great masters say that direct realization is required in order gain liberation. So once one can dissolve the self and all phenomena through emptiness, and see the freedom and vastness of things, then you are truly awakened. Of course, this sort of experience is beyond all conception. This is why Nagarjuna explains that the true nature of things is: Not existing, not NON-existing, Not BOTH and Not NEITHER. Once you have truly transcended all of these false views, then you can be said to have realized the Dharmakaya.
Even if one observes modern science, you can see these realizations taking place. The theories of Classical physics (starting with Sir Isaac Newton) all claim that the Universe can be organized and defined in a set of unifying laws and principles. These theories implied that once you knew "all" of the rules, that you could explain every single thing in the universe. This was often referred to as the Mechanical view of the universe.
However, modern Quantum physics is discovering that nothing can be absolutely known for sure. These theories are describing the universe in "Probabilities" rather than in absolute laws. They have discovered that the closer you examine objects, the more unstable they become. For instance, you can look at a table and it appears to be still and uniform. But the closer you examine it, the more you notice that it is composed of molecules in constant motion, all separated by space, yet still connected through energy and force. Even these molecules can be broken down further, with what science is now calling "String Theory". It is truly amazing how much these findings correlate with the Ancient Buddhist Philosopy.
I hope some good has come from my rambling! I enjoy very much discussing and contemplating these kinds of topics.
Blessings to all!
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Permalink Reply by Gabi Norka on -
Ignorance is the ourself glasses.
That we need clean over and over again to see directly the truht.
Compassion and Wisdom.
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Permalink Reply by Tina H. on -
When I initially saw this topic... thought perhaps I could add something. However, upon reading what Joseph Faria wrote, there really is nothing more that I can add. :)
Very thorough. Thank you for the enjoyable read!
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Permalink Reply by christopher m on -
Ignorance is not only not knowing the answer but not searching for the truth.
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Permalink Reply by thupten dothi on
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Root of suffering
Avidyā plays a key role in Buddhism and Buddhist doctrine and is the primary cause of suffering in samsāra.
1. Avidyā is one of the three kleśas.
2. Avidyā is the first link of Pratītyasamutpāda.
3. Avidyā is the first spoke on the Bhavacakra.
As one of the kleśas, Avidyā leads to craving and clinging (upādāna).
As the first link of Pratitya-Samutpada, all other links depend on it.
As the first spoke on the Bhavacakra, all subsequent states follow in its wake.
From one to six aspects
Avidyā is a lack of knowing, and can be associated with intention. Avidyā has three aspects as associates to three kinds of vedanā (sensation), and presents four aspects as the ignorance of the Four Noble Truths, and five aspects as masking the five destinies (see : Samsāra). Avidyā has six aspects as associated to any of the six doors, the six senses.
Uprooting avidya
The antidote to avidyā is "wisdom" (Skt.: prajñā; Pali: pañña). This is achieved by practicing awareness/mindfulness (Pali: sati, Skt: smṛti), patient endurance (Skt: kṣānti; Pali: khanti) and meditation (Skt: dhyāna), all three of which are incorporated in the pan-Buddhist practices of the Noble Eightfold Path and the pāramitās ("perfections").
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Permalink Reply by James Yamanaka on
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Ignorance is more than the lack of knowledge, it is the lack of desire to gain knowledge to better oneself and to better humankind. Ignorance is refusing to believe that we are all connected, and that only together can we continue to thrive on this earth and evolve through a path of spiritual oneness and enlightenment.
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Permalink Reply by Tsering Samdup on -
Ignorance is the only thing we have as a sentient being. I can say some kind of subtle ignorance is also present even in the mind of Buddhisattva dwelling on 10th Bhumi..
So ignorance is the main obstacle for buddhisattvas to help sentient beings. He needs to eradicate the ignorance at any cost.
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Permalink Reply by Ms Shantie L on -
well said by all re this discussion; I absolutely agree with James and Christopher M - the lack of desire or motivation to gain knowledge and search for the truth is certainly one aspect to the definition of ignorance; however, there are also many who do attempt to search for the truth but then give up quickly in frustration; they have no patience to do the hard work, they want instant gratification, the answers must be ready made and waiting for them; that too is ignorance; if it is one lesson we can learn from his Holiness, it has to be "the art of patience" - to have waited for so long and still waiting...to return home...
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Permalink Reply by denise urevick on
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this is over my head
Joseph Faria said:In my limited understanding, Ignorance is any holding onto an absolutist/fixed view of things. This view is commonly referred to as "dualistic" or "extreme". One should not see things as being either one or the other. This is why the Madhyamaka philosophy was developed, the school of the "Middle Way". This school proposes that any fixed view should be eradicated with emptiness, the realization that all things lack independent existence. So things are neither high nor low, big nor small, black nor white. Nagarjuna said that even dwelling in "the middle" is a fixed view, so therefore we should not hold any presuppositions whatsoever. Likewise, Buddha Shakyamuni says in the Pali Canon that even a man who claims to be equal to all others is holding onto a fixed view that needs to be dispelled. And since Ignorance is the first link in the 12 links of interdependent origination, if we free ourselves from ignorance we will be free from the sufferings of Cyclic existence. This is why Je Tsongkhapa says that the root of suffering needs to be cut out with the sword of wisdom.
Of course, a mere intellectual understanding of this is not sufficient to set ourselves free from suffering, which is unfortunately all I have gained!! The great masters say that direct realization is required in order gain liberation. So once one can dissolve the self and all phenomena through emptiness, and see the freedom and vastness of things, then you are truly awakened. Of course, this sort of experience is beyond all conception. This is why Nagarjuna explains that the true nature of things is: Not existing, not NON-existing, Not BOTH and Not NEITHER. Once you have truly transcended all of these false views, then you can be said to have realized the Dharmakaya.
Even if one observes modern science, you can see these realizations taking place. The theories of Classical physics (starting with Sir Isaac Newton) all claim that the Universe can be organized and defined in a set of unifying laws and principles. These theories implied that once you knew "all" of the rules, that you could explain every single thing in the universe. This was often referred to as the Mechanical view of the universe.
However, modern Quantum physics is discovering that nothing can be absolutely known for sure. These theories are describing the universe in "Probabilities" rather than in absolute laws. They have discovered that the closer you examine objects, the more unstable they become. For instance, you can look at a table and it appears to be still and uniform. But the closer you examine it, the more you notice that it is composed of molecules in constant motion, all separated by space, yet still connected through energy and force. Even these molecules can be broken down further, with what science is now calling "String Theory". It is truly amazing how much these findings correlate with the Ancient Buddhist Philosopy.
I hope some good has come from my rambling! I enjoy very much discussing and contemplating these kinds of topics.
Blessings to all!
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Permalink Reply by Tenzin Chonyi on -
There is ignorance about the nature of reality and it is this ignorance which is the root cause of our suffering. There is ignorance about the nature of karma which results in us not appreciating our human life and practicing dharma. Then there is ordinary ignorance such as not know how to apply Fourier series or how to get blood stains out of your kid's t-shirt.
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Permalink Reply by Lee-Ane Keegan on
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We don't know what we don't know - ignorance is the unwillingness to accept that there are things to know that are beyond our wild imaginings. To be willing to learn from everything and everyone and to keep looking for learning is the beginning of accepting our ignorance. Learn from the grass, learn from space, learn from those you hate, learn from those invisible aliens that live all around us that we don't realise are there lol who knows? be open to anything
keep it simple - pure love and understanding doesn't need deep intellectual study, you just have to let it in
Live in love.
Lee-Ane
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Permalink Reply by Tenzin Yang on
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Well, Ignorance in Buddhist term refers to the fundamental state of untrained mind which lacks realisation of ultimate nature of all phenomena. There in some text ignorance itself is the very nature of suffering too. That kind of ignorance can only be eliminated by the antidote of realisation of ultimate truth.
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