Avijjā Suttaɱ

Ignorance

Copyright Bhikkhu Bodhi 2000, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha (Wisdom Publications, 2000)
This selection from The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Saɱyutta Nikāya by Bhikkhu Bodhi is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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[1][pts][than] Thus have I heard.

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus:

"Bhikkhus!"

Venerable sir!"
hose bhikkhus replied.

The Blessed One said this:

"Bhikkhus, ignorance is the forerunner in the entry upon unwholesome states, with shamelessness and fearlessness of wrongdoing following along.

For an unwise person immersed in ignorance, wrong view springs up.

For one of wrong view, wrong intention springs up.

For one of wrong intention, wrong speech springs up.

For one of wrong speech, wrong action springs up.

For one of wrong action, wrong livelihood springs up.

For one of wrong livelihood, wrong effort springs up.

For one of wrong effort, wrong mindfulness springs up.

For one of wrong mindfulness, wrong concentration springs up.

"Bhikkhus, true knowledge is the forerunner in the entry upon wholesome states, with a sense of shame and fear of wrongdoing following along.

For a wise person who has arrived at true knowledge, right view springs up.

For one of right view, right intention springs up.

For one of right intention, right speech springs up.

For one of right speech, right action springs up.

For one of right action, right livelihood springs up.

For one of right livelihood, right effort springs up.

For one of right effort, right mindfulness springs up.

For one of right mindfulness, right concentration springs up."