Significance of Avidya
Avidya, a Sanskrit term meaning ignorance, plays a significant role across various philosophical traditions primarily within Indian thought, including Jainism, Vaishnavism, Vedanta, and Yoga. It represents spiritual ignorance that misleads individuals, causing suffering and obstruction from understanding one's true self or the nature of reality. Avidya binds living beings to the material world, initiating cycles of karma and rebirth. Overcoming Avidya through knowledge and enlightenment is essential for achieving liberation or moksha, highlighting its fundamental importance in spiritual journeys.
Synonyms: Ignorance, Unawareness, Lack of knowledge, Delusion, Misconception, Nescience
In German: Avidya; In Finnish: Avidya; In Swedish: Avidya; In Malay: Avidya; In French: Avidya; In Dutch: Avidja; In Spanish: Avidia
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Buddhist concept of 'Avidya'
Avidya in Buddhism symbolizes ignorance about self-identity, which perpetuates suffering. It is metaphorically depicted as an egg-shell that the bodhisattva must break to attain enlightenment, illustrating the need to overcome ignorance for spiritual liberation.
From: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
(1) Ignorance represented as an egg-shell that the bodhisattva breaks to achieve enlightenment.[1] (2) Ignorance that underlies the belief in a self; it contributes to the cycle of suffering according to Buddhist teaching.[2]
Hindu concept of 'Avidya'
Avidya in Hinduism signifies ignorance that obscures true understanding of the self and reality, leading to suffering and misconceptions of duality. It is the primary obstacle to liberation (moksha), which can be transcended through knowledge.
From: Taittiriya Upanishad Bhashya Vartika
(1) Ignorance or delusion that creates distinctions and serves as the source of all perceived separateness such as superiority and inferiority.[3] (2) Ignorance or a state of not knowing, which causes perception and is responsible for the experience of duality.[4] (3) Ignorance or misunderstanding, which leads to the perception of the world as an illusory appearance rather than the ultimate reality.[5] (4) Ignorance or the misconception that establishes the perception of duality in the Self, which is free from such ignorance.[6] (5) Ignorance or illusion, which when removed leads to the realization of Brahman and the cessation of the pluralistic universe.[7]
From: Mandukya Upanishad (Gaudapa Karika and Shankara Bhashya)
(1) Ignorance that leads to false perceptions of reality, affecting both waking consciousness and dream experiences.[8] (2) Ignorance or misconception that leads to the perception of duality and the external world.[9] (3) Represents ignorance that leads one to mistakenly identify with the physical existence and believe oneself to be helpless.[10] (4) The underlying ignorance that gives rise to the idea of causality.[11] (5) Ignorance or misunderstanding that leads to the activity of the mind and the perception of duality.[12]
From: Taittiriya Upanishad
(1) Ignorance or the misconception that leads to the notion of duality, causing attachment and the experience of fear.[13] (2) Ignorance of the true nature of the Self, which must be overcome to attain self-knowledge.[14] (3) Ignorance that clouds wisdom and the understanding of the true nature of bliss and existence.[15] (4) Ignorance or illusion that leads to a false conception of reality, which disappears through knowledge of Brahman.[16] (5) Ignorance or misunderstanding that leads to the perception of duality, chaotic individual existence, and the misidentification of the self.[17]
From: Thirty minor Upanishads
(1) Ignorance or misconception, often contrasted with knowledge and awareness in spiritual contexts.[18] (2) Avidya refers to ignorance or misconception; its dissolution is necessary for liberation from the cycle of birth and death.[19] (3) Avidya denotes ignorance or unawareness, which leads to attachment and suffering in the cycle of life.[20] (4) Ignorance that obscures true knowledge and contributes to the illusion of individuality.[21] (5) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that clouds and complicates understanding of the true nature of Atma.[22]
From: Brahma Sutras (Ramanuja)
(1) The conception contrary to reality that ascribes permanency and other attributes to momentary entities, leading to the origination of desire, aversion, and impressions.[23] (2) A term for ignorance or non-knowledge that obscures the true nature of Reality and creates erroneous superimpositions.[24] (3) The idea of ignorance that results in the false notion of duality, complicating the understanding of reality.[25] (4) Refers to ignorance or nescience that binds the jiva to suffering and the cycle of rebirth.[26] (5) Ignorance that binds the individual soul (jiva); the state from which the individual is said to be liberated.[27]
From: Brahma Sutras (Shankaracharya)
(1) This term indicates a specific type of understanding concerning Brahman, which may involve certain actions, but it is not considered subordinate to those actions.[28] (2) Avidya represents ignorance concerning Brahman, or the absence of philosophic knowledge, which is a term often contrasted with knowledge within the context of the Upanishads.[29] (3) This refers to a specific form of knowledge, and the agnis built of mind and so on are to be viewed as independent and constituting a vidya of their own.[30]
From: Mandukya Upanishad (Madhva commentary)
(1) The ignorance or nescience that is the cause of universal bondage.[31] (2) The concept of ignorance that relies on the will of Vishnu, preventing understanding of the ultimate truth.[32]
From: Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
(1) The beginningless ignorance that veils true knowledge and understanding of Brahman and Atman.[33]
From: Ishavasya Upanishad with Shankara Bhashya (Sitarama)
(1) Avidya refers to ignorance or unknowledge, which produces different results, primarily through the actions of Karma, leading to the abode of the manes.[34]
From: Mundaka Upanishad (Madhva commentary)
(1) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that binds the Jiva to the cycle of sorrow and suffering.[35]
From: Kena upanishad (Madhva commentary)
(1) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that the Upanishad aims to destroy along with its latent effects.[36]
From: Vivekachudamani
(1) Ignorance or lack of knowledge, particularly in relation to spiritual truths.[37]
From: Brahma Sutras (Shankara Bhashya)
(1) Ignorance or misconception regarding the true nature of reality; the root cause of all duality and suffering.[38]
From: Devi Bhagavata Purana
(1) The great ignorance that binds individuals to the cycle of Samsara, needing to be destroyed to attain happiness.[39] (2) The impure aspect of Maya that conceals Brahma and is the source of all miseries experienced by Jivas.[40] (3) Ignorance or lack of knowledge, which hinders spiritual growth.[41] (4) Ignorance, a state that Shuka Deva observed in his Guru Brihaspati, leading to skepticism about worldly attachments.[42] (5) Ignorance or the state of being unaware of the true nature of Brahman, described as a bondage of the Jivas.[43]
From: Mahabharata (English)
(1) The state of ignorance or unknowing that binds the Jiva-soul to Prakriti.[44] (2) Avidya, or ignorance, serves as a tool for Brahma's creation of the universe.[45] (3) Ignorance or illusion that veils true understanding, which is said to overlay the consciousness during Brahman鈥檚 sleep.[46] (4) Ignorance or the state of being misled, depicted as a tree of golden foliage that leads souls into various states of existence.[47] (5) Ignorance that binds the jiva (individual soul) to the cycle of existence and suffering.[48]
From: Laghu-yoga-vasistha
(1) A state of ignorance that obscures the realization of one鈥檚 true self or reality.[49] (2) Ignorance or the absence of knowledge pertaining to Atma and Brahman, which results in bondage and suffering in the illusion of the material world.[50] (3) Ignorance regarding the true nature of reality, which leads to attachment and suffering.[51] (4) Ignorance or delusion that obscures the realization of the true nature of the self and Brahman.[52] (5) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that causes suffering and leads to the cycle of rebirths.[53]
From: Yoga Vasistha [English], Volume 1-4
(1) Ignorance or lack of knowledge about the divine, leading to misconceptions about existence and reality.[54] (2) Ignorance or spiritual delusion that clouds understanding, a condition the yogi seeks to overcome.[55]
From: Bhagavad-gita-rahasya (or Karma-yoga Shastra)
(1) Ignorance about the true nature of the self, which is a barrier to realizing the distinction between purusha and prakriti.[56]
From: Brihaddharma Purana (abridged)
(1) Ignorance represented by two forms: Maya and Parama, which impede understanding the ultimate truth.[57]
From: Shakti and Shakta
(1) The term for ignorance in the philosophical frameworks discussed, often tied to the concept of Maya.[58] (2) Avidya represents ignorance that veils true knowledge, hindering the realization of pure consciousness.[59] (3) Avidya refers to ignorance or the veiling power that creates the illusion of separation from the true self, hindering spiritual realization.[60] (4) Ignorance or illusion that therein underlies perception and understanding according to Vedanta philosophy.[61] (5) A term meaning ignorance or non-knowledge, which is considered a fundamental aspect of human experience in contrast to true knowledge.[62]
From: Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
(1) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that contributes to an individual's suffering.[63] (2) Ignorance; a term used to describe the lack of knowledge and understanding in spiritual contexts.[64] (3) Ignorance; the state of being misled or forgetful of one鈥檚 true identity as a soul.[65]
From: Chaitanya Bhagavata
(1) Defined as the lack of proper philosophy or knowledge, indicating a state of ignorance compared to the ultimate knowledge of the Supreme Lord.[66]
From: Garga Samhita (English)
(1) A Sanskrit term meaning ignorance or lack of knowledge, contrasted in the text with being knowledgeable.[67]
From: Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu
(1) Represents ignorance or lack of knowledge, specifically spiritual ignorance that hinders one's spiritual journey.[68]
From: Srila Gurudeva (The Supreme Treasure)
(1) Material ignorance that confines living beings and leads to cycles of karma.[69]
From: Vakyapadiya of Bhartrihari
(1) Ignorance that causes differentiation and is neither identical with nor separate from the ultimate reality.[70] (2) A state of ignorance that leads to an incapacity in perceiving the true nature of things.[71] (3) Ignorance or misconception that leads to the perception of diversity and sequence in the universe, blocking the path to true knowledge.[72]
From: Yoga-sutras (with Vyasa and Vachaspati Mishra)
(1) Ignorance or wrong perception of reality, considered the root cause of individual suffering in yoga philosophy.[73]
From: Padarthadharmasamgraha and Nyayakandali
(1) A Sanskrit term that describes a form of ignorance or misunderstanding, particularly in relation to the nature of dreams and perceptions.[74]
The concept of Avidya in local and regional sources
Avidya signifies ignorance or illusion, obstructing spiritual truths and enlightenment by creating perceived differences in the universe. It hinders true understanding of one's nature and prevents realization of inherent perfection.
From: Triveni Journal
(1) Ignorance or illusion that prevents beings from realizing their perfect nature.[75] (2) The misconception or ignorance that obstructs perfect understanding and awareness of one's true nature.[76] (3) Illusion or ignorance that causes perceived differences and sequences in the universe as discussed by Helaraja in relation to time.[77] (4) Ignorance regarding spiritual truths; represented as a formidable obstacle to enlightenment.[78]