Most of the common grief, disappointment, depression etc that one experiences are a result of ignorance in certain key aspects of spiritual knowledge.
Ignorance, ajna:na is complete lack of knowledge on anything. In specific of what one doesn’t know, it is categorized into two forms, anyatha: jna:na and vipari:tha jna:na.
| Vipari:tha jna:nam | Anyatha: jna:nam |
| Being ignorant of what the target substance or entity (dharmi) is and perceiving it as something different is called vipari:tha jna:na | Being ignorant of and perceiving the attributes (dharma) of the target substance/entity to be different than what they are is called anyatha: jna:na |
| The Sanskrit term for this ignorance is
dharmi viparya:sa jna:na |
The Sanskrit term for this ignorance is
dharma viparyasa jna:na |
Example: When you look at a mic but think that it is a stick |
Example: When the color of the mic is purple, but you perceive it as yellow |
Mic and its colour are simple examples to help you understand the types of ignorance. Even if you are ignorant about physical objects such as a mic and their attributes such as its colour, the impact to you is at the physical level. However, if such ignorance is about yourself [unclear of who you are and your attributes], then you will be risking your true wonderful eternal state of bliss for something that is temporary and ever-changing.
I don’t have such ignorance. I can recognise a mic and the colours.
How is this connected to grief?
Vipari:tha jna:nam |
If you think that you are the body, then you are ignorant of the entity, self. You have a hand; you are not the hand. Same way, you have a body, you are not the body. |
Anyatha: jna:nam |
If you know that you are the a:thma, not the body but if you think that you are the one who is taking birth or dying, then you are ignorant of the attributes/qualities of yourself. You are eternal, you do not die. The body takes a form and then disintegrates, not you! |
Self-check: Do you have anyatha: jna:na or vipari:tha jna:na?
Goda Devi demonstrates her clarity in the knowledge about self and the supreme in the 30 pasuras, poems called thiruppa:vai. In the 8th song, Goda Devi knocks on the door of a gopika who seems to be sleeping at the surface but is in the state of this clear knowledge about the self to accompany/lead her in reaching the supreme, Sri Krushna.
Company of devotees who have clarity of knowledge in spiritual aspects is the first and the last step in claiming your original state of bliss. Her knowledge of all these aspects is outpoured in the form of devotion. When knowledge ripens, it takes the form of devotion. Get yourself out of the ignorance and walk the path of true wisdom in the lead of Goda Devi!
– From the teaching by HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji to Vedic students
– Dhanurmasam, Day 8, Divya Sakthem, JIVA
This knowledge of ignorance is simply mind blowing, and the connection of our ignorance to our sufferings is another mind opening subject in itself
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