Ignorance is the forerunner in the arising of unwholesome qualities, and wisdom is the forerunner in the arising of wholesome qualities.

SN 45.1  Avijjā sutta - Ignorance

Evaṁ me sutaṁekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.

Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. There, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, “Bhikkhus.”

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Venerable sir,” the bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:

“Avijjā, bhikkhave, pubbaṅgamā akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā, anvadeva ahirikaṁ anottappaṁ. Avijjāgatassa, bhikkhave, aviddasuno micchādiṭṭhi pahoti; micchādiṭṭhissa micchāsaṅkappo pahoti; micchāsaṅkappassa micchāvācā pahoti; micchāvācassa micchākammanto pahoti; micchākammantassa micchāājīvo pahoti; micchāājīvassa micchāvāyāmo pahoti; micchāvāyāmassa micchāsati pahoti; micchāsatissa micchāsamādhi pahoti.

“|Ignorance::illusion of knowledge, not knowing [avijjā]|, bhikkhus, is the forerunner in the arising of unwholesome qualities, with |shamelessness::lack of conscience [ahirika]| and |moral recklessness::fearlessness of wrongdoing [anottappa]| following behind. For one who is immersed in ignorance, bhikkhus, wrong view arises; for one with wrong view, wrong intention arises; for one with wrong intention, wrong speech arises; for one with wrong speech, wrong action arises; for one with wrong action, wrong livelihood arises; for one with wrong livelihood, wrong effort arises; for one with wrong effort, wrong mindfulness arises; for one with wrong mindfulness, wrong |collectedness::stability of mind, stillness of mind, mental composure [samādhi]| arises.

Vijjā ca kho, bhikkhave, pubbaṅgamā kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā, anvadeva hirottappaṁ. Vijjāgatassa, bhikkhave, viddasuno sammādiṭṭhi pahoti; sammādiṭṭhissa sammāsaṅkappo pahoti; sammāsaṅkappassa sammāvācā pahoti; sammāvācassa sammākammanto pahoti; sammākammantassa sammāājīvo pahoti; sammāājīvassa sammāvāyāmo pahoti; sammāvāyāmassa sammāsati pahoti; sammāsatissa sammāsamādhi pahotī”ti.

“Wisdom, bhikkhus, is the forerunner in the arising of wholesome qualities, with a |sense of shame and fear of wrongdoing::conscience and concern, respect for oneself and others, internal sense of right and wrong and moral dread [hirottappa]| following along. For one who has arrived at wisdom, bhikkhus, right view arises; for one with right view, right intention arises; for one with right intention, right speech arises; for one with right speech, right action arises; for one with right action, right livelihood arises; for one with right livelihood, right effort arises; for one with right effort, right mindfulness arises; for one with right mindfulness, right collectedness arises.”

Last updated on June 10, 2026