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Significance of Nescience

Nescience is a term that signifies ignorance or lack of awareness across various philosophical and spiritual traditions, including Jainism, Tibetan Buddhism, Vaishnavism, Yoga, and Vedanta. It represents a state of unawareness that obscures the true nature of reality, leading individuals away from spiritual truths and entangling them in material existence. This ignorance is seen as a primary cause of suffering, misunderstandings, and the cycle of rebirth, which can only be overcome through knowledge and enlightenment.

Synonyms: Ignorance, Lack of knowledge, Unawareness, Inexperience

In Finnish: Nescience; In Dutch: Onwetendheid; In Spanish: Ignorancia; In German: Unwissenheit

The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.

Buddhist concept of 'Nescience'

Buddhism Books

Nescience in Buddhism signifies ignorance that clouds perception and understanding, causing misinterpretation of reality. It influences behavior and consciousness, hindering enlightenment by obscuring the true nature of existence.

Significance in Theravada (major branch of Buddhism):
Theravada Books

From: Patthanuddesa Dipani

(1) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that influences one's actions and resultant states of consciousness.[1]

Theravada is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Significance in Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism):
Tibetan Buddhism Books

From: Tattvasangraha [with commentary]

(1) The state of ignorance or illusion that leads to wrong cognition, obscuring the true nature of non-objective forms.[2]

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha鈥檚 words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayana) are collected indepently.

Hindu concept of 'Nescience'

Hinduism Books

Nescience in Hinduism signifies a state of ignorance that obscures the true nature of the Self and Brahman, leading to misidentification, suffering, and the illusion of duality, ultimately hindering enlightenment and spiritual realization.

Significance in Vedanta (school of philosophy):
Vedanta Books

From: Brahma Sutras (Shankaracharya)

(1) This is what the individual soul dispels with true knowledge, which is the reason for the difference of all Selfs and prevents unity.[3] (2) Nescience is described as a fiction, characterized by name and form, which is evolved as well as non-evolved, and not to be defined as either Existing or Non-existing.[4] (3) This term initiates a series and is a key component of a chain of causes and effects, as presented in the text. The series starting with it includes various members, and it is acknowledged by different schools of thought.[5] (4) This is the absence of true knowledge. The text states that the soul which rises cannot be the Lord, who is everlastingly free from Nescience.[6] (5) Nescience is another name for the undeveloped principle, which is sometimes referred to as the akasha, ether, and the individual soul depends on it for its continued existence.[7]

From: Brahma Sutras (Ramanuja)

(1) A state of ignorance that prevents recognition of the non-dual nature of existence as suggested in the texts.[8] (2) Ignorance or misperception regarding the true nature of reality and the Self, leading to suffering.[9] (3) The root of all ignorance, often contrasted with the knowledgeable nature of Brahman.[10] (4) A state of ignorance or lack of knowledge that obscures one's understanding of the true nature of the Self.[11] (5) The ignorance that obscures the soul's true nature and bliss, only to be removed upon reaching enlightenment.[12]

From: Vivekachudamani

(1) Lack of knowledge or awareness, particularly in relation to the understanding of the ultimate reality.[13] (2) A state of ignorance or unawareness that covers the mind, similar to how sedge covers water.[14] (3) A term referring to ignorance that obscures the true nature of Brahman, causing the misperception of change and limitation.[15] (4) The ignorance or lack of knowledge that binds individuals to the cycle of illusion, preventing the realization of the Self.[16] (5) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that conceals the true nature of the Self, similar to impurities that cloud water.[17]

From: Brahma Sutras (Shankara Bhashya)

(1) Ignorance or unawareness (related to Maya) that obscures true understanding of Brahman鈥檚 nature and powers.[18] (2) Ignorance or lack of knowledge, particularly in relation to the understanding of Brahman.[19] (3) The state of ignorance that leads to the misconception of the separate existence of the Internal Ruler and the individual soul.[20] (4) Ignorance or illusion that veils the true understanding of Brahman and leads to the identification of the self with the body and mind.[21]

From: Chandogya Upanishad (Shankara Bhashya)

(1) Ignorance or misunderstanding of reality, seen as the root cause of bondage in the cycle of births and rebirths.[22] (2) The ignorance that causes the Self to be attached to the physical body and the cycle of life.[23] (3) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that leads to the perception of duality and otherness in existence.[24]

From: Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

(1) The ignorance or lack of knowledge associated with the material world and the cycle of existence (samsara).[25]

From: Kathopanishad (Madhva commentary)

(1) Obscurity and ignorance that obscure the true nature of individual souls and is removed upon attaining release or enlightenment.[26]

From: Ishavasya Upanishad with Shankara鈥檚 Commentary

(1) The state of ignorance that prevents a person from attaining self-knowledge once they have experienced true understanding.[27]

Vedanta refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).

Significance in Yoga (school of philosophy):
Yoga Books

From: Yoga-sutras (with Vyasa and Vachaspati Mishra)

(1) The particular ignorance that causes the misunderstanding of the self and not-self, resulting in Egoism.[28] (2) Ignorance or lack of knowledge considered as the root cause of egoism and other mental afflictions.[29] (3) Nescience is the primary affliction referred to in the text, representing a form of Unreal Cognition that leads to misunderstanding and ignorance.[30] (4) Ignorance or lack of knowledge about the true nature of the Self and the distinctions between subjective and objective reality.[31] (5) Nescience refers to ignorance or a lack of knowledge, which gives rise to afflictions in the mind that can be removed through understanding.[32]

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as asanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

Significance in Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar):
Vyakarana Books

From: Vakyapadiya of Bhartrihari

(1) The ignorance or unawareness that leads to the misperception of reality as dualistic, contributing to the misunderstanding of existence.[33] (2) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that contributes to the perception of differentiation in reality.[34] (3) Ignorance or the state of being uninformed, from which all activity by the sages is produced and which is seen as secondary.[35] (4) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that restricts or limits the perception of jivas without affecting reality.[36] (5) Ignorance or lack of awareness that causes the manifestation of the Self as an external object.[37]

Vyakarana refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.

Significance in Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma):
Vaishnavism Books

From: Chaitanya Bhagavata

(1) Ignorance or lack of knowledge, often seen as eliminated by the teachings found in the Shrimad Bhagavatam.[38] (2) Ignorance or lack of knowledge regarding one's relationship with the Supreme Lord, contributing to pride and misconceptions.[39] (3) Ignorance or lack of knowledge, particularly in a spiritual context, which prevents individuals from recognizing true reality.[40] (4) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that causes bondage in the material world.[41] (5) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that leads individuals to misidentify the self with the material body and experience suffering.[42]

From: Haribhakti-sudhodaya

(1) Ignorance or lack of spiritual knowledge, which keeps beings entangled in material existence.[43] (2) Ignorance or lack of knowledge regarding the true nature of reality, leading individuals away from spiritual truths.[44] (3) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that prevents souls from understanding their true nature and the divine.[45]

From: Tiruvaymoli (Thiruvaimozhi): English translation

(1) A state of ignorance or lack of knowledge, particularly regarding the true nature of the self and the Supreme Lord.[46]

Vaishnava or vaishnavism (vaishnavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (鈥榯en avatars of Vishnu鈥�).

Significance in Purana and Itihasa (epic history):
Purana Books

From: Garuda Purana

(1) Ignorance or misunderstanding that veils the truth of the self and the universe, blocking realization and liberation.[47] (2) Ignorance or lack of true knowledge, which is said to be the cause of sin and bondage.[48] (3) A state of ignorance that leads to suffering and the cycle of re-births, which the liberated Yogin transcends.[49]

From: Devi Bhagavata Purana

(1) The state of ignorance or misconception about the true nature of reality, from which beings seek liberation.[50]

The Purana refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India鈥檚 vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Significance in Dharmashastra (religious law):
Dharmashastra Books

From: Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi

(1) Ignorance or a lack of awareness that can cause agitation and suffering, against which the Supreme Soul remains unaffected.[51]

Dharmashastra contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.

The concept of Nescience in local and regional sources

History Books

Nescience denotes the phenomenal world that arises from ignorance, suggesting that this obstructed knowledge lacks true existence, emphasizing the illusory nature of perceptions shaped by lack of understanding.

Significance in India history and geography:

From: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda

(1) The phenomenal world that depends on this obstruction of knowledge, which has no real existence.[52]