avidya

[ uh-vid-yah ]

noun

, Hinduism, Buddhism.

1. ignorance of the identity of oneself with Brahman, resulting in imprisonment within the cycle of birth and death.

Word History and Origins

Origin of avidya¹

< Sanskrit avidyā ignorance, equivalent to a- a- ⁶ + vidyā; vidya

Example Sentences

Pieces in the festival this year include “Avidya: The Dark Inn,” by the Japanese theater group Niwa Gekidan Penino, about puppeteers who arrive in a remote village; “En Alerte,” a tribute to spiritual dancing by the Moroccan choreographer Taoufiq Izeddiou; and performances by music groups like the traditional Irish troupe the Reel Thing and the local rock group Meadowlake.

From New York Times

But here a question is at once raised, In what sense is the word avidyá, "ignorance," used here?

From Project Gutenberg

In a vague way, however, Buddhism holds that in some way this Unknowable, or a part thereof, becomes entangled in Maya or Illusion, through Avidya or Ignorance, Law, Necessity, or perhaps something in the nature of a Mistake.

From Project Gutenberg

Their aim was, to prove the temporal existence of such an Avidyâ, not to discover its origin; and then in the Vidyâ, the Vedânta philosophy, to set forth the means by which the Avidyâ could be destroyed.

From Project Gutenberg

It is absolutely destitute of qualities; whatever qualities or attributes are conceivable, can only be denied of it.—But, if nothing exists but one absolutely simple being, whence the appearance of the world by which we see ourselves surrounded, and, in which we ourselves exist as individual beings?—Brahman, the answer runs, is associated with a certain power called Mâyâ or avidyâ to which the appearance of this entire world is due.

From Project Gutenberg