Ignorance and Knowledge (Avidya and Jnana)

The root of misery is ignorance (Avidya) which is destroyed by knowledge (Jnana)

Ignorance and Knowledge (Avidya and Jnana)

For Swami Vivekananda the root of misery is ignorance, called Avidya in the Vedanta philosophy. It is an ancient discovery made by all the great men of God, the Saviors of humanity.

Therefore, to get rid of misery one must destroy ignorance. How?

With Knowledge (Jnana).

Sri Krishna said to Arjuna in Chapter 10- The Yoga of Divine Glories (Vibhuti Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita:

Bhagavad Gita 10.11: destroy ignorance with knowledge (Jnana Philosophy)

Ignorance is proverbially represented as darkness and knowledge as light. The light of knowledge dispels the darkness of ignorance. The darkness of a thousand years can be dispelled in a second by striking a match and, in exactly the same way, ignorance vanishes instantly with the dawn of knowledge, as Ramakrishna used to say.

Sri Krishna said to Arjuna in Chapter 5- Yoga of Renunciation of Action (Sannyasa) of the Bhagavad Gita:

“But for those whose ignorance is destroyed by the knowledge of the Atman, their knowledge, like the sun, reveals the Supreme” Bhagavad Gita 5.16.

Therefore, this knowledge is regarded as highly sacred. Sri Krishna said to Arjuna in chapter 4- The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action (Jnana-Karma-Sannyasa) of the Bhagavad Gita:

Bhagavad Gita (Philosophy of Yoga) IV-37-38. Perfected by the Yoga. Knowledge

“There is nothing in this world as purifying as knowledge. One who is perfected through Yoga discovers it within oneself in due course” Bhagavad Gita 4.38.