Venerable Sāriputta answers the wanderer Jambukhādaka on a question about ignorance, explaining the Dhamma and the practice that leads to extinguishment.

SN 38.9 A Question About Ignorance

“‘Avijjā, avijjā’ti, āvuso sāriputta, vuccati. Katamā nu kho, āvuso, avijjā”ti?

“Yaṁ kho, āvuso, dukkhe aññāṇaṁ, dukkhasamudaye aññāṇaṁ, dukkhanirodhe aññāṇaṁ, dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya aññāṇaṁ ayaṁ vuccatāvuso, avijjā”ti.

“Atthi panāvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā, etissā avijjāya pahānāyā”ti?

“Atthi kho, āvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā, etissā avijjāya pahānāyā”ti.

“Katamo panāvuso, maggo katamā paṭipadā, etissā avijjāya pahānāyā”ti? “Ayameva kho, āvuso, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, etissā avijjāya pahānāya, seyyathidaṁ sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi. Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā, etissā avijjāya pahānāyā”ti. “Bhaddako, āvuso, maggo bhaddikā paṭipadā, etissā avijjāya pahānāya. Alañca panāvuso sāriputta, appamādāyā”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“‘Avijjā, avijjā’ti, āvuso sāriputta, vuccati.

“Reverend Sāriputta, they speak of this thing called ‘ignorance’.

Katamā nu kho, āvuso, avijjā”ti?

What is ignorance?”

“Yaṁ kho, āvuso, dukkhe aññāṇaṁ, dukkhasamudaye aññāṇaṁ, dukkhanirodhe aññāṇaṁ, dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya aññāṇaṁ

“Not knowing about suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering.

ayaṁ vuccatāvuso, avijjā”ti.

This is called ignorance.”

“Atthi panāvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā, etissā avijjāya pahānāyā”ti?

“But, reverend, is there a path and a practice for giving up that ignorance?”

“Atthi kho, āvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā, etissā avijjāya pahānāyā”ti.

“There is.” …

“Katamo panāvuso, maggo katamā paṭipadā, etissā avijjāya pahānāyā”ti?

“Ayameva kho, āvuso, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, etissā avijjāya pahānāya, seyyathidaṁ

sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā, etissā avijjāya pahānāyā”ti.

“Bhaddako, āvuso, maggo bhaddikā paṭipadā, etissā avijjāya pahānāya.

Alañca panāvuso sāriputta, appamādāyā”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Delusion

Delusion

A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.

Also known as: illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view
Pāli: moha, micchāñāṇa
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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
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Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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Ignorance

Ignorance

A fundamental blindness to the true nature of reality. It is not merely a lack of information, but an active misperception that views the transient as permanent and the unsatisfactory as a source of happiness, thereby fueling the cycle of suffering.

Also known as: illusion of knowing, fundamental unawareness of the true nature of reality, misunderstanding of how things have come to be, not knowing the four noble truths
Pāli: avijjā
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026