1. And what is ignorance?
Any lack of knowledge with reference to stress, any lack of knowledge with reference to the origination of stress, any lack of knowledge with reference to the cessation of stress, any lack of knowledge with reference to the way of practice leading to the cessation of stress. This is called ignorance.
1.1. What is the origination of ignorance?
From the origination of fermentation comes the origination of ignorance.
1.2. What is the cessation of ignorance?
From the cessation of fermentation comes the cessation of ignorance.
1.3. What is the way of practice leading to the cessation of ignorance?
And the way of practice leading to the cessation of ignorance is just this very noble eightfold path: right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. (MN 9)
2. “I say, bhikkhus, that ignorance has a nutriment; it is not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment for ignorance?
It should be said: the five hindrances.
2.1. The five hindrances, too, I say, have a nutriment; they are not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment for the five hindrances?
It should be said: the three kinds of misconduct.
2.2. The three kinds of misconduct, too, I say, have a nutriment; they are not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment for the three kinds of misconduct?
It should be said: non-restraint of the sense faculties.
2.3. Non-restraint of the sense faculties, too, I say, has a nutriment; it is not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment for non-restraint of the sense faculties?
It should be said: lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension.
2.4. Lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension, too, I say, has a nutriment; it is not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment for lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension?
It should be said: careless attention.
2.5. Careless attention, too, I say, has a nutriment; it is not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment for careless attention?
It should be said: lack of faith.
2.6. Lack of faith, too, I say, has a nutriment; it is not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment for lack of faith?
It should be said: not hearing the good Dhamma.
2.7. Not hearing the good Dhamma, too, I say, has a nutriment; it is not without nutriment. And what is the nutriment for not hearing the good Dhamma?
It should be said: not associating with good persons. (AN 10.61)
3. “What do you think? Is there delusion?”
“Yes, venerable sir.” — “Ignorance is the meaning of that, I say. (AN 3.66 – Sāḷha Sutta)