अविज्जा
Avijjā
Ignorance / Unknowing
無明
Grammar 語法
feminine noun (ā-stem): a- (not) + vijjā (knowledge/science)
Definition 釋義
The first and root link of Dependent Origination — the fundamental ignorance about the nature of reality, specifically not knowing (a-vijjā): dukkha, the origin of dukkha, the cessation of dukkha, and the path to the cessation of dukkha (i.e., the Four Noble Truths). Avijjā is not mere lack of information but a fundamental misperception that takes what is impermanent, suffering, and not-self to be permanent, pleasurable, and self. Its cessation, through insight into the Three Characteristics, is the cessation of the entire chain of dependent origination.
Canonical Example 典籍例句
Katamā ca, bhikkhave, avijjā? Yaṃ kho, bhikkhave, dukkhe aññāṇaṃ, dukkhasamudaye aññāṇaṃ...
And what, monks, is ignorance? Not knowing suffering, not knowing the origin of suffering...
Source: SN 12.2
At a Glance
- Pali
- Avijjā
- IAST
- Avidyā
- Devanagari
- अविज्जा
- Chinese
- 無明
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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