Darkness

Ignorance is the lack of the divine ability to see the supramental Truth; it is the part of our consciousness that does not perceive, as opposed to the part that sees and knows the truth.

The distinction between knowledge and ignorance starts with the hymns of the RigVeda, where knowledge means being conscious of the Truth and what is right, and ignorance is being unconscious of the Truth and what is right, opposing it and creating false or negative effects.

Avidya is a form of Prakriti that obscures the spiritual powers of the individual soul, forming a veil that hides the Supreme from the individual's vision.

'I' and 'mine' represent ignorance, while 'Thou' and 'Thine' represent knowledge.

Brahman is beyond knowledge and ignorance, virtue and vice, merit and demerit, cleanliness and uncleanliness.

The veil of ignorance clouds our vision and deceives us into seeing others as strangers.

That happiness which deludes the self both at the outset and in its aftermath, arising from sleep, sloth, and heedlessness — that is declared to be tamasic.

That steadfastness by which a dull-witted person does not release sleep, fear, grief, despondency, and arrogance — that steadfastness, O Partha, is tamasic.

That intellect, shrouded in darkness, which takes what is unrighteous for righteous, and sees all things in their opposite nature — that intellect, O Partha, is tamasic.

Undisciplined, vulgar, obstinate, deceitful, spiteful, slothful, despondent, and a perpetual procrastinator — such a doer is called tamasic.

Action that is begun through delusion, without considering the consequence, loss, injury to others, or one's own capacity — that is declared to be tamasic.

A gift given at the wrong place and time, to one unworthy of it, without honour or respect — that giving is declared to be of the quality of darkness.

Out of compassion for them alone, dwelling within their own being, I destroy the darkness born of ignorance with the shining lamp of knowledge.

Salutations to the Guru who, with the salve of wisdom applied like a fine brush, opens the eyes of one left sightless by the darkness of ignorance.

That which clings to a single effect as though it were the whole, without reason, without grasping the true nature of things, and petty in scope — that is declared to be tamasic knowledge.

Know tamas to be born of ignorance, deluding all embodied beings. O scion of Bharata, it binds through negligence, idleness, and sleep.

Darkness, inertia, negligence, and delusion — these arise when tamas is ascendant, O joy of the Kurus.

If the Lord Hari is displeased, the Guru can still be one's protector; but if the Guru is displeased, no one can save you. Therefore, with every effort, take refuge in the Guru.

The first syllable 'gu' illumines the qualities beginning with maya — the veiling forces of creation. The second syllable 'ru' is Brahman, the destroyer of illusion and confusion.

The syllable 'gu' signifies darkness; the syllable 'ru' signifies light. The Guru is verily that Brahman which devours ignorance — of this there is no doubt.