Ajnana

Ajnana

“nescience”, “ignorance” 

Ignorance is associated with the feeling of duality (dvaita-pratha) when we think that one thing is different from the other. It is often used as a synonym for avidya.

Blinded by ignorance (ajnana), [the soul], although it is essentially one, perceives its original "I" as a diverse multitude and subjects.

“Paramartha-sara” (25)

In Sankhya, ajnana is one of the qualities of buddhi (intellect), of which there are eight at all: dharma (righteousness) and adharma (vice), jnana (knowledge) and ajnana (ignorance), vairagya (detachment) and avairagya / asakti (attachment), aishvarya (strength, superiority) and anaishvarya (powerlessness).

According to Abhinavagupta, ajnana is the basis of three malas (basic defilements) in Kashmiri Shaivism that hinder moksha – anava, karma and maya malas. That is, ignorance is the only reason for the limitation (connectedness) of a human being by samsara. It can only be destroyed by jnana.

There are two types of ajnana considered in Kashmir Shaivism:

• Paurusha-ajnana – ignorance of one's true essential nature. It can only be removed by the grace of teachers and by true samadhi, in which this knowledge of one's perfect nature (paurusha-jnana) is acquired.


• Bauddha-ajnana – intellectual ignorance, when a person does not have knowledge of the doctrine (philosophy). It is eliminated by the study of texts, scriptures, and also by the knowledge coming from Guru.

Bauddha-jnana develops through intellect, paurusha-jnana develops through steady practice. It is believed that when a sadhaka combines these two kinds of knowledge (that is, overcomes both aspects of ignorance), he is able to realize the state of jivanmukti.