Sutra Insights
Avidya
Definition: Fundamental ignorance or spiritual blindness; the root cause of suffering and misperception.
Insights: Avidya is the fundamental ignorance that veils our true nature. It is the root of all suffering and the primary klesa that distorts perception and binds us to the cycle of birth and death.
Related Sutras
2.3
avidyāsmitārāgadveṣābhiniveśāḥ kleśāḥ
Ignorance (avidyā), egoism (asmitā), attachment (rāga), aversion (dveṣa), and clinging to life (abhiniveśa) are the five afflictions (kleśas).
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2.4
avidyā kṣetramuttareṣāṁ prasuptatanuvicchinnodārāṇām
Ignorance is the field for the others, whether they be dormant, attenuated, interrupted, or active.
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2.5
anityāśuciduḥkhānātmasu nityaśucisukhātmakhyātiravidyā
Ignorance is seeing the non-eternal as eternal, the impure as pure, suffering as happiness, and the non-Self as the Self.
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2.10
te pratiprasavaheyāḥ sūkṣmāḥ
These subtle afflictions are to be overcome by resolving them back into their cause.
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2.11
dhyānaheyāstadvṛttayaḥ
Their active modifications are to be overcome by meditation.
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2.12
kleśamūlaḥ karmāśayo dṛṣṭādṛṣṭajanmavedanīyaḥ
The reservoir of karmas has its root in the afflictions and brings experiences in the seen (present) or unseen (future) lives.
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2.13
sati mūle tadvipāko jātyāyurbhogāḥ
As long as the root exists, its fruition will be birth, life span, and experiences.
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2.24
tasya heturavidyā
The cause of this conjunction is ignorance (avidyā).
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2.34
vitarkā hiṁsādayaḥ kṛtakāritānumoditā lobhakrodhamohapūrvakā mṛdumadhyādhimātrā duḥkhājñānānantaphalā iti pratipakṣabhāvanam
Negative thoughts like violence, etc.—whether done, caused to be done, or approved of; whether preceded by greed, anger, or delusion; whether mild, moderate, or intense—result in infinite pain and ignorance. Thus, one should cultivate their opposites.
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4.27
tacchidreṣu pratyayāntarāṇi saṁskārebhyaḥ
In the intervals of that (discriminative awareness), other thoughts arise from latent impressions (vasanas).
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