Methodology for Realizing Avidya or Ignorance in the Views of

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of the main ideas of Avidya or ignorance which is
the cause of suffering and passions, which affected to the man in society and it is the way out
of such suffering at the same time through epistemology of Mahayana Buddhism. It is the core
teaching of Madhyamika and Yogacara school. Both have presented the concept of ignorance
focusing on epistemological method of realization. Ignorance is a false conceptualization caused
by limitations of language structure, which causes wrong views and other beliefs that separate
into the various cult groups which causes the delusions on self-attachment or non-self in the
case of Madhyamika while Yogacara holds that ignorance or Avidya refers to unknowing the
true nature of only one consciousness. The ignorant people misunderstood and hold that there
are materials existing outside the consciousness later causing ego who wants to own those
material objects generating happiness for themselves until it causes defilements and wrong
deeds. In order to deal with Avidya, Madhyamika presented the middle path to release from
such attachment to any form of thought while Yogacara presented the way to realize absolute
truth and meditation development to abandon a duality of mind-body until the mind became
unity, that is to say, Alayaviññana which one experiences in everyday life.