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According to Buddhism, ignorance is a primordial force that afflicts us all. In Buddhist scriptures, it is referred to by the Sanskrit term avidyā (Pāli: avijjā), combing the root vid, which means to “see, know, perceive or understand,” with the negation a, resulting in the opposite meaning.
The term dharma (Sanskrit; Pali: dhamma) is frequently used in Buddhism, although its broad meaning can’t be contained in a single-word equivalent in English. The etymological root of the Sanskrit word is “dhri,” which means "to support, bear, hold, maintain or keep." In that sense, dharma refers to the underlying principles of “cosmic law and order,” “the state of nature,” “ultimate truth” or “nature of all phenomena.”
“As spiritual practitioners, we must develop three qualities in our hearts to eliminate the three poisons. With compassion, we can eliminate anger (aversion). With giving, we can eliminate greed (attachment). With wisdom, we can eliminate ignorance. To cultivate these three qualities, we must practice mindfulness.”
In Buddhism, there is a bodhisattva who embodies the spirit of compassion. This bodhisattva, named Avalokitesvara, is so full of love that she can’t bear for people to suffer. When she sees or hears people in distress or difficulty, she goes to them very quickly to offer aid and relief.
Developing wisdom is one of the core components – alongside ethical conduct and mental discipline – of the Noble Eightfold Path, known as the Path to the Cessation of Suffering, that the Buddha taught as the fourth of the Four Noble Truths. Two of the eight parts of the Noble Eightfold Path pertain to wisdom, these being Right View or Understanding, and Right Thought.
