Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
56. Sacca Saṃyutta
2. Dhamma-Cakka-Pavattana Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
56. Kindred Sayings about the Truths
2. The Foundation of the Kingdom of the Norm
Sutta 17
Avijjā Suttaṃ
Ignorance
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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Now a certain monk came to see the Exalted One
on coming to him greeted him courteously,
and after the exchange of greetings and compliments
sat down at one side.
Seated at one side he said to the Exalted One: -
"'Ignorance! Ignorance,' is the saying, lord.
Pray, lord, what is ignorance,
and how far is one the victim of ignorance?"
"Monk, being ignorant about Ill,
its arising,
its ceasing
and about the practice that leads to its ceasing
is called 'ignorance,'
and one who is thus ignorant
is a victim of ignorance.
Wherefore, monk, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill.'
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
'This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
