Ru-Yi Meditation Center
Saṃyutta Nikāya · Discourse 56.17

Ignorance

Avijjāsutta — Dhammacakkappavattanavagga

Setting
Not given — continuing directly from SN 56.16's own setting
Speaker
An unnamed mendicant asks; the Buddha answers
Form
A direct question, a precise definitional answer
Length
<1 minute to read
Northern parallel
No individual parallel confirmed by this project's own check
Significance
★★★★ — the seventh of ten discourses, precisely defining a term (avijjā) that stands at the head of dependent origination's own twelve links, already treated elsewhere in this project's own work

Why this discourse

Confirmed by direct reading, this discourse answers a mendicant's own direct question — “what is ignorance?” — with a precise definition: not knowing about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path. This project notes that “avijjā” stands as the first link of dependent origination's own twelve links elsewhere in the canon; here it receives a specific, narrower definition tied directly to the four truths.

Reading guide

A precise, not a vague, definition

This project's own reading: rather than defining ignorance broadly as a general lack of awareness or wisdom, this discourse ties it precisely to the four truths specifically — not knowing suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path — a definition this project notes gives the term's own appearance elsewhere (as the first link of dependent origination) a concrete, specific content.

Key terms

avijjā, avijjāti, bhante, vuccati — “they speak of this thing called 'ignorance'” — the mendicant's own opening reference to common usage
katamā nu kho, bhante, avijjā — “what is ignorance?” — the mendicant's own direct question
dukkhe aññāṇaṁ — “not knowing about suffering” — the first component of this discourse's own fourfold definition
avijjāgato — “an ignoramus, one gone into ignorance” — the term this discourse also defines, alongside “avijjā” itself
sattamaṁ — “the seventh” — this discourse's own root text confirming its own position directly, read rather than assumed

The text

Every genuinely translated fragment given in the consulted English source. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).

§1Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha: “Sir, they speak of this thing called ‘ignorance’. What is ignorance? And how is an ignoramus defined?” “Not knowing about suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering. This is called ignorance. And this is how an ignoramus is defined.

§2That’s why you should practice meditation …”

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Self-check quiz

3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.

Question 1 of 3
How does this discourse define ignorance (avijjā)?
Correct: A. Confirmed by direct reading — a precise, four-truths-specific definition.
Question 2 of 3
Where does this project note the term "avijjā" also appears elsewhere in the canon?
Correct: A. This project's own noted cross-reference, giving the term's own wider appearance a concrete content here.
Question 3 of 3
What position does this discourse occupy in this vagga's own ten-discourse sequence?
Correct: A. Confirmed by direct reading of the root text's own closing marker "Sattamaṁ" ("seventh").
Answered 0 of 3 · Correct 0

Further reading

← PreviousSN 56.16 · Remembering (2nd)