Ignorance means not being illuminated, both in the literal and figurative senses. Figuratively, it means lacking wisdom and insight, referring to a state of mental confusion regarding things, not grasping the truth, and being unable to clearly comprehend the principles of phenomena. It also refers to worldly understanding that fails to apprehend the teachings of the Buddha.
When learning about Buddhism, you may have come across the term “ignorance.” It is a crucial concept in Buddhism that refers to “lack of understanding,” and the goal of Buddhist practices is to eliminate it and achieve enlightenment.
However, this “lack of understanding” does not stem from a lack of common knowledge, but rather a lack of understanding of the true nature of reality, unclear views of reality, and the root cause of all our suffering in life.
What is Ignorance in Buddhism?
In Buddhism, ignorance (avijja in Pali or avidya in Sanskrit) is considered one of the root causes of suffering and the primary obstacle to enlightenment. It is defined as the lack of understanding of the true nature of reality.
In Buddhism, ignorance signifies confusion and lack of clarity, meaning not seeing the true nature of all things, the actual mode of existence of humans and all phenomena.
According to Buddhist teachings, ignorance arises from our tendency to perceive things as permanent, substantial, and self-existent. We cling to the idea of a fixed and unchanging self, even though everything in the world is constantly changing and impermanent. This attachment to an illusory sense of self creates suffering, as we try to hold onto things that are ultimately fleeting and transient.
Ignorance also involves misunderstanding the nature of cause and effect. We believe that things arise and exist independently of other conditions, when in fact everything is interdependent and arises in dependence on various causes and conditions.
In Buddhism, the path to enlightenment involves overcoming ignorance through the cultivation of wisdom, which involves seeing things as they really are, without the distortions created by our habitual patterns of thought and perception. Through meditation, study, and reflection, we can begin to break down the illusions created by ignorance and gain a deeper understanding of the true nature of reality.
What is an Ignorant Person?
An ignorant person is someone who lacks knowledge, understanding, or awareness about a particular subject or in general. In the context of Buddhism, ignorance refers to a fundamental lack of understanding of the true nature of reality, which leads to attachment, aversion, and delusion.
Ignorance is something far more terrible than wicked or petty individuals. It causes people to fail to recognize their mistakes, even believing they are correct, ignoring the advice of others, and following their own delusions.
The tendency of ignorance leads people to make erroneous judgments about their body, mind, and environment, thereby reaping distress and losing the intrinsic peace, joy, and purity of their true nature. This is why eliminating ignorance is essential for achieving Nirvana. In other words, we must penetrate the root of ignorance to truly end suffering—the suffering of cyclic existence and the suffering of change.
An ignorant person in Buddhism is someone who is unaware of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which are the foundation of Buddhist teachings. This ignorance leads to suffering and prevents the person from attaining enlightenment. In Buddhism, the goal is to overcome ignorance through cultivating wisdom and understanding the true nature of existence.
Why is Ignorance The Root of Suffering?
Ignorance appears as a primary topic in two different theories about the nature of reality in various Buddhist traditions. The first pertains to the theory of non-self (Anatta), which refers to a lack of understanding or a misconception about the “self.”
The other relates to the theory of impermanence (Anicca), which refers to a lack of understanding or a misconception about “permanence,” when the true nature of reality is constantly changing.
Usually, we only believe in what we can perceive through our five physical senses, as evidence from scientific facts and logic. Therefore, we have misconceptions about things outside of our experiential data, leading to incorrect decisions.
For example, a fish may not see the hidden hook behind a tasty piece of bait, leading it to encounter difficulties in making decisions. If it were to see the entire picture, it could recognize that something is amiss and refrain from taking this piece of bait.
Like the fish in the example above, we perceive the pleasures of life through limited understanding, and thus, we strive to possess them by any means, even negative actions.
Therefore, ignorance is considered the root of suffering because it distorts our perception of reality and creates false expectations and attachments. Ignorance leads us to misunderstand the nature of reality and to cling to a false sense of self, even though everything in the world is constantly changing and impermanent.
Through ignorance, we believe that things are permanent, self-existent, and independent, and we cling to them as if they were. We become attached to people, possessions, and ideas, and we experience suffering when we are separated from them or when they fail to meet our expectations.
Ignorance also leads us to misunderstand the nature of cause and effect, leading us to engage in actions that are harmful to ourselves and others. This further perpetuates the cycle of suffering and creates negative karma, which leads to future rebirths in samsara.
This limited perspective prevents us from recognizing the true nature of these pleasures as temporary and without essence. The Buddha is someone who sees the big picture, and He has shown us that picture and explained why we should believe in it.
How Can One Eliminate Ignorance?
Ignorance can be eliminated by nurturing the opposite state. That is wisdom and a profound awareness of the true nature of reality.
The Buddha compared ignorance to darkness, and the only way to escape the darkness is to bring light. Similarly, the Buddha explained that ignorance can only be eliminated through training in wisdom.
To overcome ignorance, there is no other way but to cultivate wisdom through learning and practicing the Dharma. Firstly, we must develop wisdom to discern ethical and unethical behavior, and then understand the true nature of the world, namely impermanence, non-self, and suffering.
Despite being taught or understanding it through scriptures, it is still not easy to eliminate ignorance. This is because our minds are covered with impurities accumulated from an unavoidable beginning. Therefore, we need to understand the “true nature of this complex world” through personal experience on the path of practicing the Eightfold Path.
