Vidya vs Avidya

 
Avidyā (अविद्या) is a Vedic Sanskrit word, and is a compound of "a" and "vidya", meaning "not vidya". The word vidya is derived from the Sanskrit root Vid, which means "to know, to perceive, to see, to understand". Therefore, avidya means to "not know, not perceive, not understand".

Vishnu Purana says “Vidya is what liberates”, which means any knowledge that leads to self-realization, is called as Vidya. In the same way, anything that is NOT meant to help achieve self-realization is called ‘Avidya’. 

As per Isha Upanishad, 
अन्धं तमः प्रविशन्ति येऽविद्यामुपासते । ततो भूय इव ते तमो य उ विद्यायां रताः ॥ (Isha Upa. 9)
One enters into blinding darkness who study Avidya alone; and into more greater darkness if they study Vidya alone.

विद्यां चाविद्यां च यस्तद्वेदोभ्य सह ।अविद्यया मृत्युं तीर्त्वाऽमृतमश्नुते ॥ (Isha Upa. 11)

One who knows both vidya and avidya together, overcomes death through avidya and experiences immortality through vidya. This way, we are expected to give equal importance to both “Vidya and Avidya”, as they help us fulfill different aspect of life. Avidya helps us fulfill the responsibilities and obligations that we have towards family, society or world, while Vidya helps is further on spiritual path. So, Yogi should not lose focus of both Vidya and Avidya, and work towards making progress on both.

Inferior knowledge or ignorance arises from our minds and their faculties. Their interaction with the phenomenal world is responsible for our experience of duality and delusion. From this perspective, even the knowledge we gain from the study of the scriptures, unless it is augmented by spiritual experience, is considered inferior. As I say mere book knowledge does not help much in our liberation. Some even say that it becomes an obstacle and comparatively an empty mind is better suited for spiritual sadhana than an intellectual mind full of theories and concepts. This knowledge is considered inferior, because it does not liberate us from the cycle of births and deaths. Instead, it leads to more attachment, karma, egoism, worldliness and more involvement with things and Nature.

Spiritual knowledge arises from the contact with the Self in a deeper state of self-absorption, at the end of a long spiritual journey and self-purification. It arises in a state in which the mind and the senses are withdraw and fully resting. Spiritual knowledge is transcendental knowledge which arises in a person who is self-aware without the involvement of his mind or its faculties. The Upanishads state clearly that both types of knowledge are important. From the lower knowledge comes the discipline and the ability to practice the higher and realize the highest. They also affirm that knowledge of Brahman is the highest knowledge, because it is permanent, unchanging and indivisible, by knowing which there is no further knowing.

When we are in a state of samadhi or deep meditative state, we have no means of knowing what is happening, and when we come out of it we have no means of remembering what happened, because our minds and senses were not involved in that experience. It is like the deep sleep state, beyond dreams and all mental formations, about which we have no idea. 

If we want to go back to our source, we have to overcome our limitations of Prakriti and duality and regain our true consciousness. We need to experience our knowledge of oneness, withdrawing ourselves from the objects of the worlds, the senses and the mind and transcending our memory and phenomenal awareness. There is nothing wrong with human existence or human knowledge. It is neither inferior nor superior. 

Knowing the distinction between true knowledge and false knowledge will help us to realize who we are, why we are here and what is the purpose of our creation and existence. It will help us to know the mysteries of Atman and Brahman. It reminds us what we have been and where we need to go.

When you get a glimpse of the consciousness which is taking care, the hatred disappears. The moment hatred leaves your heart it also vanishes from your world. One who sees himself in all beings and all beings in himself — that person’s approach to events and problems in life changes? Your grief is centered on yourself; transcend it by making it bigger. Don’t think ‘This house is mine’; rather think that ‘everything in the world belongs to me’.

There is an intelligence taking care of the universe. We were born on this planet with the knowledge that the whole universe is filled with life. When you see things from the eyes of a child everything, including the sun, moon, planets and the elements become alive.

Spirituality is to see the whole universe as alive and vibrant with intelligence. And that intelligence is what you are. The spirit or consciousness is formless. That which is formless is ever present and can be perceived in all the forms.

There are two branches of knowledge: vidhya, the spiritual aspect and avidhya, the material or subjective aspect. The basis for spiritual knowledge is subjective knowledge. You need to know this first then move on to aspects more subtle and beyond the body, like the mind, the intellect and the ego.

Both are essential. Because we are a combination of both matter and spirit. Anyone who is one-sided is lost. If you are completely engrossed in avidhya, you are in darkness and if you are completely immersed in vidhya then too you are in darkness. If you are in neither then you are in greater darkness.

Too much of anything is not good. You can overcome death through avidhya and through vidhya you attain immortality. Yoga is avidhya, it is not a spiritual science. It is a refinement of the mind. Vidhya is when you do nothing at all.

Truth is multi-dimensional. When we think truth is linear then we can perceive only one direction. There is one path with many ways. Another possible meaning may be that neither through Vidhya nor Avidhya can you achieve the truth; neither through the understanding nor through experience.

A scientific approach is essential in spirituality. You have to live in the world and you have to do your duties and perform them well. Knowing about electricity, medicine and other necessities is a part of avidhya and is essential in life. Knowing this, you can cross over to vidhya and realize that you are love, peace and joy. These are  beyond any expression or understanding. We can bring a balance to the system and our mind.

I am strong advocate for realizing and recognizing Avidya or ignorance in everything we do. We may not grasp all the ignorances in this world, but Vishnu will slowly help you understand the ignorances on Earth which is very crucial for transformation of me in my divine journey. On the other hand the Vidya which is knowledge beyond earth or which exists in the divine realm is Vidya., which is already available in you. You have to harvest it by connecting to different divine realms. We will never completely conquer Avidya. If one level is understood, the next level shows up. The Vidaya and Avidya, the duality keep moving like a wheel. At a time Vidya up, then Avidya as the wheel rotates, it keep changing but as Yogi, I am making progress with blessings of Vishnu.