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.
concept
Darkness
Across world spiritual traditions, darkness generally symbolizes the unknown or a lack of awareness. Many traditions converge on the idea that darkness can be transformative. They diverge, however, in their interpretations and symbolism.
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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 happiness that deludes the self both at the beginning and in its consequence, arising from sleep, indolence, and negligence — that is declared to be tamasic.
यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च सुखं मोहनमात्मनः | निद्रालस्यप्रमादोत्थं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ||१८-३९||
The resolve by which a dull-witted person does not let go of sleep, fear, grief, despondency, and conceit — that resolve, Partha, is tamasic.
यया स्वप्नं भयं शोकं विषादं मदमेव च | न विमुञ्चति दुर्मेधा धृतिः सा पार्थ तामसी ||१८-३५||
The intellect that, wrapped in darkness, regards adharma as dharma and sees all things upside down — that intellect, Partha, is tamasic.
अधर्मं धर्ममिति या मन्यते तमसावृता | सर्वार्थान्विपरीतांश्च बुद्धिः सा पार्थ तामसी ||१८-३२||
The agent who is undisciplined, vulgar, stubborn, deceitful, dishonest, lazy, despondent, and procrastinating — that agent is called tamasic.
अयुक्तः प्राकृतः स्तब्धः शठो नैष्कृतिकोऽलसः | विषादी दीर्घसूत्री च कर्ता तामस उच्यते ||१८-२८||
Action undertaken through delusion, without regard to its consequences, to loss and injury, and to one's own capacity — that is called tamasic.
अनुबन्धं क्षयं हिंसामनपेक्ष्य च पौरुषम् | मोहादारभ्यते कर्म यत्तत्तामसमुच्यते ||१८-२५||
The gift given at the wrong place and time, to unworthy recipients, without respect and with contempt — that is declared to be tamasic.
अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते | असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ||१७-२२||
Out of compassion for them, dwelling within their hearts, I destroy the darkness born of ignorance with the shining lamp of knowledge.
तेषामेवानुकम्पार्थमहमज्ञानजं तमः | नाशयाम्यात्मभावस्थो ज्ञानदीपेन भास्वता ||१०-११||
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.
अज्ञानतिमिरान्धस्य ज्ञानाञ्जनशलाकया । चक्षुरुन्मीलितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः
But the knowledge that clings to a single effect as if it were the whole, without reason, without grasp of the truth, and trivial — that is declared to be tamasic.
यत्तु कृत्स्नवदेकस्मिन्कार्ये सक्तमहैतुकम् | अतत्त्वार्थवदल्पं च तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ||१८-२२||
But know tamas to be born of ignorance, deluding all embodied beings; it binds through heedlessness, laziness, and sleep, Bharata.
तमस्त्वज्ञानजं विद्धि मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम् | प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिस्तन्निबध्नाति भारत ||१४-८||
Unillumination, inactivity, heedlessness, and delusion — these arise when tamas is predominant, joy of the Kurus.
अप्रकाशोऽप्रवृत्तिश्च प्रमादो मोह एव च | तमस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे कुरुनन्दन ||१४-१३||
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.
हरौ रुष्टे गुरुस्त्राता गुरौ रुष्टे न कश्चन । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन श्रीगुरुं शरणं व्रजेत्
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.
गुकारः प्रथमो वर्णो मायादिगुणभासकः । रुकारो द्वितीयो ब्रह्म माया भ्रान्ति विनाशनम्
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.
गुकारस्त्वन्धकारश्च रुकारस्तेज उच्यते । अज्ञानग्रासकं ब्रह्म गुरुरेव न संशयः
In Samadhi, the Yogin beholds the Supreme and Immutable Brahma, which shines like a blazing light in the midst of thick darkness.