Avidyā (Buddhism)

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	The 12 Nidānas:
	Ignorance
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	Formations
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	Consciousness
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	Mind & Body
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	Six Sense Bases
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	Contact
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	Feeling
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	Clinging
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	Becoming
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	Birth
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	Old Age & Death

Avidyā (Sanskrit) or Avijjā (Pāli) means "ignorance" or "delusion". It is used extensively in Buddhist texts.

Synonyms:

無明 Cn: wúmíng; Jp: mumyō; Vi: vô minh
Tibetan: ma.rig.pa

Avidyā plays a key role in Buddhism and Buddhist doctrine and is the primary cause of suffering in saṃsāra.

Avidyā is one of the three kleśas.
Avidyā is the first spoke on the Bhavacakra.
Avidyā is the first link of Pratītyasamutpāda.

As one of the kleśas, Avidyā leads to craving (tṛṣṇā) and clinging (upādāna).
As the first spoke on the Bhavacakra, all subsequent states follow in its wake.
As the first link of Pratitya-Samutpada, all other links depend on it.

The antidote to Avidyā is Prajñā wisdom. This is achieved by practicing awareness/mindfulness (Pali: sati, Skt: smṛti), patient endurance (Skt: kṣānti) and meditation (Skt: dhyāna), All three of which are incorporated in the Theravādin practice of Eightfold Path and the Mahāyāna practice of the Pāramitās (Path of Perfection).

[edit] From one to six aspects

Avidyā is a lack of knowing, and can be associated with intention. Avidyā has three aspects as associates to three kinds of vedanā (sensation), and presents four aspects as the ignorance of the Four Noble Truths, and five aspects as masking the five destinies (see : Samsāra). Avidyā has six aspects as associated to any of the six doors, the six senses (see: Ṣaḍāyatana).