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Ignorance for advanced users

lobsterlobster Crusty Veteran
edited January 2016 in Buddhism Basics

In the Buddhist pantheon of the six realms, even the gods are ignorant. Only humans have a chance for liberation/enlightenment.
http://www.examiner.com/article/buddhist-study-understanding-the-six-realms-of-existence

Levels of ignorance:

  • Beggar's mind - as we all know beggars can't be choosers and we have to make do with any snippets that come our way.
  • Disciplined mind - a sort of preparatory limbo state where we realise, we are going to have to come out of ignorance

  • Stuffing mind - so much information it interferes with common sense
    http://bengtwendel.com/your-teacup-is-full-empty-your-cup/

  • Normal ignorance - starting to calm our ignorance a little, maybe thinking of it as heedlessness, lack of attention or awareness

  • Professional ignorance - realising we need to empty our previous learning and continuously upgrade
  • Ignorance of ignorance - this is the first advanced stage, ignoring or keeping silent about peoples 'stuffed mind', opinions masquerading as knowledge etc.

One day while Shibli was passing through populated area of Karkh, in Baghdad, he heard an imposter who was saying that Silence was better than speech. Shibli said to him, “your silence is better than your speech, for your speech is vanity and your silence is an idle jest but my speech is better than my silence, because my silence is gentleness and my speech is knowledge.”
http://www.donmeh-west.com/booksilence2.shtml

  • Advanced ignorance - a state of awareness, relying on 'not knowing' but being aware
  • Beginners mind - identical with preliminary ignorances but now one realises ignorance as a natural, unprepared state.

Tsk, tsk, so much ignorance. Any clue for us dharma beggars? o:)

rohitJeffrey

Comments

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    Unconscious Incompetence
    Conscious Incompetence
    Unconscious Competence
    Conscious Competence

    Is what, I think, you're trying to convey.

  • lobsterlobster Crusty Veteran

    If really advanced we may reach the stage of these ancient devilish dervish ignoramuses
    … Know that you know nothing and are no one.
    http://www.rodneyohebsion.com/sufism.htm

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