The Related Suttas Collection 22.134

13. Ignorance

With Koṭṭhita (2nd)

At Varanasi.

“Friend Koṭṭhita, they speak of this thing called ‘ignorance’. What is ignorance? And how is an ignorant person defined?”

“Friend, an unlearned ordinary person doesn’t truly understand the origin, the ending, the gratification, the drawback, and the escape when it comes to form, feeling, perception, functioning patterns, and consciousness.

This is called ignorance. And this is how an ignorant person is defined.”

When he said this, Venerable Sāriputta said to him:

“Friend Koṭṭhita, they speak of this thing called ‘knowledge’. What is knowledge? And how is a knowledgeable person defined?”

“Friend, a learned noble disciple truly understands the origin, the ending, the gratification, the drawback, and the escape when it comes to form, feeling, perception, functioning patterns, and consciousness.

This is called knowledge. And this is how a knowledgeable person is defined.”