??????? (a-giaan-taa)
Meaning: noun: Ignorance.
Quote:
???? ???? ????? � ?? ?? ?? ????? ???? ???? ??????? � ?? ????? ?????
meraa teraa jaantaa�� tab hee te ba?dhaa.
gur kaa?ee agiaantaa�� tab chhu?ke pha?dhaa.
Since I was concerned with �mine� and �yours�, I was held in bondage. When the Guru dispelled my ignorance, then all my snares were cut away. – Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, Page 400
Message: Imagine that each of us is clinging to the rim of a wheel. One day we are at the top of our game. But from time to time we find ourselves laid low in health, wealth and reputation. Worldly things occupy the wheel�s rim; these objects of attachment spin ceaselessly attracting attention. The Divine is at the centre of the wheel. This is the focal point of faith, transcending health, wealth, power, pleasure and fame.
The least practical thing to do is to cling to the rim. You do not know where you will be at the next turn. It is in this ignorance that most of us are living. The ignorance of who we are, where we stand and the instability of our position is the cause of our problems, the unease in our minds. The truth is at the stable centre of the wheel and that should be the focus.
We should be moving towards an awareness of the divine spark in us and the treasure of wisdom it holds. Gurbani is there to show us the way: move beyond attachment to the external, the material world. �You only lose what you cling to,� says the Buddha. Gurbani reminds us that attachment holds us in captivity. Release the attachment. Go look for the stable centre.
Etymology: From Sanskrit ajaanant (not knowing) ? Pali ajaanana (ignorance).
