Avidya, False Knowledge, Is the Mother of All Pain

Earlier I described that people are afflicted with five types of pain. These are:

1. False Knowlege (Avidya)
2. Egoism (Asmita)
3. Anger (Raga)
4. Jealousy (Dvesh)
5. Fear of Death (Abhinivesh)

Patanjali described - Avidya is the mother of all other pain and Avidya may exist either as dormant, lessened, dispersed or benign state.

Avidya is derived from the Sanskrit root 'vid' meaning - that exists. So to know something that exists is Vidya (knowledge) and to know those things that doesn't exist is Avidya (false knowledge). None has ever seen what God looks like. For this religion, people portray God as they like. This is Aviya. None has ever entered Heaven alive. For this reason, people depict Heaven as they wish it should be. Religious leaders instigate people to fight and lay down their lives for the cause of religion so that after death they may enter into Heaven. This is Avidya. For enjoyment people become womanizers or drunkards. For happiness people amass wealth by deceiving others. This is Aviya. So anything that is not real and short-lived is Avidya.

According to scriptures Self or Soul is real and everlasting. One can't deny the fact that Self doesn't exist or in other words one doesn't exist. No proof is required to prove whether one exists or not. So Self has real existence and the know-how of Self is Vidya (knowledge). According to Indian philosophy all other know-how is Avidya. Patanjali teaches that this Avidya-related pain should be removed from the mind from the root. Otherwise, pain may exist in the form of dormant, lessened, dispersed or benign states. Let us see what these states are:

1. Dormant State - Pain may remain in the mind in dormant state, but at anytime it may be active. For example, a dormant volcano may be active at anytime and may cause huge loss to life and property.
2. Lessen State - Pain may be lessened temporarily, but at opportune time it may reappear in full vigor. For example, malaria fever may be lessened by the use of drugs temporarily, but may reappear repeatedly.
3. Dispersed State - Pain may be scattered and may loose its intensity, but may regroup at opportune time. Rebels sometimes disperse and try to regain strength. At the opportune time they reunite and overthrow a regime.
4. Benign State - Scapegoats are nurtured well before being butchered. Prostitutes appear benign and charming at the outset, but later on ruin everything.

So Avidya is the mother of all pain and pain may hide in any form or state. By practicing Yoga, one should try to realize Self and thereby regain Vidya (knowlege). Only then can one uproot pain that may have hidden in any form.