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The definition
"And what is ignorance, what is the origin of ignorance, what is the
cessation of ignorance, what is the way leading to the cessation of
ignorance? Not knowing about dukkha, not knowing about the origin of dukkha, not
knowing about the cessation of dukkha, not knowing about the way leading to the
cessation of dukkha — this is called ignorance. With the arising of the taints
there is the arising of ignorance; with the cessation of the taints there is the
cessation of ignorance. The way leading to the cessation of ignorance is just
this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view... right concentration." ...
"And what are the taints, what is the origin of the taints, what is the
cessation of the taints, what is the way leading to the cessation of the taints?
There are three taints: the taint of sensual desire, the taint of being and the
taint of ignorance. With the arising of ignorance there is the arising of the
taints. With the cessation of ignorance there is the cessation of the taints.
The way leading to the cessation of the taints is just this Noble Eightfold
Path; that is, right view... right concentration."
— Majjhima Nikaya 9 (Ñanamoli/Bodhi, trans.)
Because ignorance is the root cause of dukkha...
"From ignorance as a requisite condition come fabrications. From fabrications...
comes consciousness. From consciousness... name-&-form. From name-&-form... the
six sense media. From the six sense media... contact. From contact... feeling.
From feeling...craving. From craving... clinging/sustenance. From
clinging/sustenance... becoming. From becoming... birth. From birth as a
requisite condition, then aging & death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, &
despair come into play. Such is the origination of this entire mass of stress &
suffering.
...when it ceases, so too must dukkha cease
"Now from the remainderless fading & cessation of that very ignorance comes the
cessation of fabrications. From the cessation of fabrications comes the
cessation of consciousness. From the cessation of consciousness comes the
cessation of name-&-form. From the cessation of name-&-form comes the cessation
of the six sense media. From the cessation of the six sense media comes the
cessation of contact. From the cessation of contact comes the cessation of
feeling. From the cessation of feeling comes the cessation of craving. From the
cessation of craving comes the cessation of clinging/sustenance. From the
cessation of clinging/sustenance comes the cessation of becoming. From the
cessation of becoming comes the cessation of birth. From the cessation of birth,
then aging & death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair all cease.
Such is the cessation of this entire mass of stress & suffering."
— Samyutta Nikaya 12.2
Suggested Further Reading
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