Significance of Nescience
Nescience, across various philosophical traditions, predominantly refers to ignorance or lack of knowledge, acting as a central cause of spiritual suffering and misunderstanding. In Jainism, Tibetan Buddhism, Vaishnavism, and other schools, Nescience obscures true reality and prevents individuals from recognizing their divine nature and essence. It keeps beings trapped in the cycle of birth and death, contributing to false identities, attachment, and material bondage. Understanding and overcoming Nescience is deemed crucial for liberation and realization of the self's true nature.
Synonyms: Ignorance, Lack of knowledge, Unawareness, Unfamiliarity, Inexperience
In French: Ignorance; In Finnish: Nescience; In Malay: Nescience; In Dutch: Onwetendheid; In Spanish: Ignorancia; In German: Unwissenheit; In Swedish: Okunskap; In Portugese: Ignorância; In Italian: Nescienza; In Polish: Niewiedza
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Buddhist concept of 'Nescience'
Nescience in Buddhism signifies ignorance or illusion that distorts perception and understanding, leading to erroneous beliefs and actions that perpetuate suffering and hinder realization of true, non-objective reality.
From: Patthanuddesa Dipani
(1) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that influences one's actions and resultant states of consciousness.[1]
From: Tattvasangraha [with commentary]
(1) The state of ignorance or illusion that leads to wrong cognition, obscuring the true nature of non-objective forms.[2]
Hindu concept of 'Nescience'
Nescience in Hinduism signifies ignorance about Brahman, obscuring true knowledge of reality and the Self. It is the root of suffering and misperception, leading to bondage and reinforcing the illusion of separation from the highest truth.
From: Brahma Sutras (Shankaracharya)
(1) Name and form, the adjuncts (of the one real Brahman), are due to Nescience, and the fruit of such meditation is lordship over the worlds; a fruit falling within the sphere of the Samsara, Nescience having not as yet been discarded.[3] (2) Nescience is fictitiously created by the shastra, and the aim of the shastra is to discard all distinctions created by it, and by the knowledge derived from the sastra the imagination of the transitoriness of Release which is due to Nescience is discarded.[4] (3) The knowledge of Brahman is described as something that discards Nescience, leading to final release.[5] (4) This is what the individual soul dispels with true knowledge, which is the reason for the difference of all Selfs and prevents unity.[6] (5) Nescience is described as a fiction, characterized by name and form, which is evolved as well as non-evolved, and not to be defined as either Existing or Non-existing.[7]
From: Brahma Sutras (Ramanuja)
(1) Nescience, as the text states, should not belong to Brahman, whose essential nature is knowledge, free from all imperfections, omniscient, and comprising within itself all auspicious qualities.[8] (2) Nescience is a theory that cannot be proven, and is described as a defect which fictitiously superimposes on reality, giving rise to illusions and is neither being nor non-being, but is also considered altogether untenable.[9] (3) A state of ignorance that prevents recognition of the non-dual nature of existence as suggested in the texts.[10] (4) Ignorance or misperception regarding the true nature of reality and the Self, leading to suffering.[11] (5) The root of all ignorance, often contrasted with the knowledgeable nature of Brahman.[12]
From: Vivekachudamani
(1) Lack of knowledge or awareness, particularly in relation to the understanding of the ultimate reality.[13] (2) A state of ignorance or unawareness that covers the mind, similar to how sedge covers water.[14] (3) A term referring to ignorance that obscures the true nature of Brahman, causing the misperception of change and limitation.[15] (4) The ignorance or lack of knowledge that binds individuals to the cycle of illusion, preventing the realization of the Self.[16] (5) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that conceals the true nature of the Self, similar to impurities that cloud water.[17]
From: Brahma Sutras (Shankara Bhashya)
(1) Ignorance or unawareness (related to Maya) that obscures true understanding of Brahman’s nature and powers.[18] (2) Ignorance or lack of knowledge, particularly in relation to the understanding of Brahman.[19] (3) The state of ignorance that leads to the misconception of the separate existence of the Internal Ruler and the individual soul.[20] (4) Ignorance or illusion that veils the true understanding of Brahman and leads to the identification of the self with the body and mind.[21]
From: Chandogya Upanishad (Shankara Bhashya)
(1) Ignorance or misunderstanding of reality, seen as the root cause of bondage in the cycle of births and rebirths.[22] (2) The ignorance that causes the Self to be attached to the physical body and the cycle of life.[23] (3) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that leads to the perception of duality and otherness in existence.[24]
From: Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
(1) The ignorance or lack of knowledge associated with the material world and the cycle of existence (samsara).[25]
From: Kathopanishad (Madhva commentary)
(1) Obscurity and ignorance that obscure the true nature of individual souls and is removed upon attaining release or enlightenment.[26]
From: Ishavasya Upanishad with Shankara’s Commentary
(1) The state of ignorance that prevents a person from attaining self-knowledge once they have experienced true understanding.[27]
From: Yoga-sutras (with Vyasa and Vachaspati Mishra)
(1) The particular ignorance that causes the misunderstanding of the self and not-self, resulting in Egoism.[28] (2) Ignorance or lack of knowledge considered as the root cause of egoism and other mental afflictions.[29] (3) Nescience is the primary affliction referred to in the text, representing a form of Unreal Cognition that leads to misunderstanding and ignorance.[30] (4) Ignorance or lack of knowledge about the true nature of the Self and the distinctions between subjective and objective reality.[31] (5) Nescience refers to ignorance or a lack of knowledge, which gives rise to afflictions in the mind that can be removed through understanding.[32]
From: Chaitanya Bhagavata
(1) The state of being bewildered, lacking knowledge or awareness, especially regarding self-realization, leading to forgetfulness of one's true nature.[33] (2) Ignorance or lack of knowledge, often seen as eliminated by the teachings found in the Shrimad Bhagavatam.[34] (3) Ignorance or lack of knowledge regarding one's relationship with the Supreme Lord, contributing to pride and misconceptions.[35] (4) Ignorance or lack of knowledge, particularly in a spiritual context, which prevents individuals from recognizing true reality.[36] (5) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that causes bondage in the material world.[37]
From: Haribhakti-sudhodaya
(1) Ignorance or lack of spiritual knowledge, which keeps beings entangled in material existence.[38] (2) Ignorance or lack of knowledge regarding the true nature of reality, leading individuals away from spiritual truths.[39] (3) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that prevents souls from understanding their true nature and the divine.[40]
From: Tiruvaymoli (Thiruvaimozhi): English translation
(1) A state of ignorance or lack of knowledge, particularly concerning spiritual or divine matters, from which people are trying to emerge.[41] (2) It is the land where the Alvar is situated, open to the hazards of succumbing to the mischief of the senses.[42] (3) A state of ignorance or lack of knowledge, particularly regarding the true nature of the self and the Supreme Lord.[43]
From: Sri Krishna-Chaitanya
(1) Krishna made His mother see that nescience served to foster love for the power of the Truth.[44]
From: Vakyapadiya of Bhartrihari
(1) Nescience is the functioning of powers where spatial and temporal manifestations are neither identical nor different from the Truth, and the transformations, that is, the Universe proceeds out of Brahman which is the Word.[45] (2) This is the state that causes the one to manifest as many, affecting how different experiencers perceive the ultimate reality in multiple forms.[46] (3) The ignorance or unawareness that leads to the misperception of reality as dualistic, contributing to the misunderstanding of existence.[47] (4) Ignorance or lack of knowledge that contributes to the perception of differentiation in reality.[48] (5) Ignorance or the state of being uninformed, from which all activity by the sages is produced and which is seen as secondary.[49]
From: Garuda Purana
(1) It is one of the qualities, along with illumination and action, that should be worshipped, in addition to petals and stamens.[50] (2) Ignorance or misunderstanding that veils the truth of the self and the universe, blocking realization and liberation.[51] (3) Ignorance or lack of true knowledge, which is said to be the cause of sin and bondage.[52] (4) A state of ignorance that leads to suffering and the cycle of re-births, which the liberated Yogin transcends.[53]
From: Devi Bhagavata Purana
(1) The state of ignorance or misconception about the true nature of reality, from which beings seek liberation.[54]
From: Yoga Vasistha [English], Volume 1-4
(1) The text mentions that there is neither ignorance nor knowing of anything here by us, because it is the uncreated Intellect alone, that manifests itself in this manner.[55]
From: Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi
(1) Ignorance or a lack of awareness that can cause agitation and suffering, against which the Supreme Soul remains unaffected.[56]
Jain concept of 'Nescience'
In Jainism, Nescience signifies ignorance or unawareness, recognized as a key factor contributing to the mind's impurities. Overcoming Nescience is essential for achieving mental clarity and spiritual purification through yoga practices.
From: Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti)
(1) This is a condition that handicaps certain beings, implying a state of ignorance or lack of awareness that influences their experience and perception of reality.[57]
The concept of Nescience in local and regional sources
Nescience denotes an obstructed understanding of the phenomenal world, suggesting that this perceived reality lacks true existence. It highlights the complexities of knowledge and perception in distinguishing between what is real and illusory.
From: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
(1) The phenomenal world that depends on this obstruction of knowledge, which has no real existence.[58]
The concept of Nescience in scientific sources
Nescience, also known as avidya, is the lack of knowledge that binds individuals to worldly suffering. Bhaktivinoda states that removing nescience through Brahman realization leads to emancipation.
From: Religions Journal (MDPI)
(1) It is also known as avidya, and its removal leads to emancipation from worldly suffering through the realization of Brahman, according to Bhaktivinoda.[59]