avijja (ignorance) as root cause of all evils

General discussion, particularly exploring the Dharma in the modern world.
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Wesley1982
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avijja (ignorance) as root cause of all evils

Post by Wesley1982 »

It is said that avijja (ignorance) is the root cause of all evils. Is this correct? And also 'miccba dittbi' = false views.
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retrofuturist
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Re: avijja (ignorance) as root cause of all evils

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings Wesley,

Yes.

Maitri,
Retro. :)
Live in concord, with mutual appreciation, without disputing, blending like milk and water, viewing each other with kindly eyes.
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Quiet Heart
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Re: avijja (ignorance) as root cause of all evils

Post by Quiet Heart »

Wesley1982 wrote:It is said that avijja (ignorance) is the root cause of all evils. Is this correct? And also 'miccba dittbi' = false views.
:smile:
Yes, but in English the term "ignorance" might be taken as something that a person might be faulted for or blamed for.
So I would prefer the English term "delusion"....the misunderstanding of the true nature of a person's life and purpose.
Do you know what "Blinders" are?
Race horses can be distracted by events outside the racetrack and around them, and not concentrate on winning the race.
So the owners/trainers of racehorses put "blinders" on them that limits their vision to exactly what's in front of them....so they will only see what is in front of them.
That way the racehorse thinks of nothing but the track he sees in front of him and blindly runs the race.
People do the same thing to themselves....but often their "blinder" is their Ego....which limits their vision to that directly in front of them.
Thier Ego is a "blinder"....a "delusion"....that limits their vision just like the blinder limits the vision of the racehorse.
Remove the blinders from the eyes of that racehorse, and he can see not only the narrow racetrack....but the whole scene.
Remove the Ego delusion from the eyes of a person and without that blinder he or she can see clearly and live outside his or her narrow vision world-view.
And then, without that "delusion" (or ignorance if you want to call it that) a new world of vision opens up.
:smile:
Shame on you Shakyamuni for setting the precedent of leaving home.
Did you think it was not there--
in your wife's lovely face
in your baby's laughter?
Did you think you had to go elsewhere (simply) to find it?
from - Judyth Collin
The Layman's Lament
From What Book, 1998, p. 52
Edited by Gary Gach
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Wesley1982
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Re: avijja (ignorance) as root cause of all evils

Post by Wesley1982 »

Its interesting to find out and uproot the causes of agitation,anxiety/nervousness,and worrying.
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kirtu
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Re: avijja (ignorance) as root cause of all evils

Post by kirtu »

Wesley1982 wrote:Its interesting to find out and uproot the causes of agitation,anxiety/nervousness,and worrying.
These psychological manifestations aren't ignorance but are non-immediate manifestations of ignorance. Agitation, anxiety, nervousness or worrying are mostly about fear, or expectation or unmet expectation or desire.

Kirt
“Where do atomic bombs come from?”
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”

"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
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Wesley1982
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Re: avijja (ignorance) as root cause of all evils

Post by Wesley1982 »

If something is unfamiliar to you and you don't understand it at first, reject it - then later come to understand it a little better. (leading to eventual acceptance) Is there a specific Buddhist term for that?
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