Linked Discourses 22.133

1. Ignorance

With Koṭṭhita

At Varanasi.

Sāriputta said to Mahākoṭṭhita:

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

What is ignorance?

And how is an ignoramus defined?”

“Reverend, an unlearned ordinary person doesn’t truly understand the gratification, the drawback, and the escape when it comes to form,

feeling,

perception,

choices,

and consciousness.

This is called ignorance.

And this is how an ignoramus is defined.”

When he said this, Venerable Sāriputta said to him:

“Reverend Koṭṭhita, they speak of this thing called ‘knowledge’.

What is knowledge?

And how is a knowing one defined?”

“Reverend, a learned noble disciple truly understands the gratification, the drawback, and the escape when it comes to form,

feeling,

perception,

choices,

and consciousness.

This is called knowledge.

And this is how a knowing one is defined.”