The Related Suttas Collection 22.135

13. Ignorance

With Koṭṭhita (3rd)

The same setting. Sāriputta said to Mahākoṭṭhita:

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

“Friend, it’s when an unlearned ordinary person doesn’t understand form, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation. They don’t understand feeling … perception … functioning patterns … consciousness, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation.

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, it’s when a learned noble disciple understands form, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation. They understand feeling … perception … functioning patterns … consciousness, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation.

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