What is the difference between theoretical and practical ignorance with regard to maayaa and avidyaa?

Dr. K. V. Prasad asked (via telephone): I have read Your explanation about māyā and avidyā. Can you please explain more about theoretical and practical ignorance in the light of these two?

Swami replied (via telephone): Māyā is totally related to God (Māyāvacchinna Īśvaraḥ) and avidyā is totally related to the individual soul (Avidyāvacchinno jīvaḥ). In both of them, the truth is hidden and falsehood is experienced. In both, there is theoretical ignorance (Ajñāna āvaraṇam) as well as practical ignorance (Ajñāna vikṣepaḥ). In both, the theoretical ignorance can be removed through knowledge and analysis. In the case of māyā, the practical ignorance can never be removed by any soul since the divine power of māyā greatly exceedes the power of any soul. In avidyā too, practical ignorance cannot be removed immediately. It exists for a little time after the theoretical ignorance is removed and then it vanishes.

A rope is mistaken to be a snake in dim light. On shining the torch light on it, the snake disappears and the rope appears. This is the removal of theoretical ignorance. But even after the rope is seen, the fear of the snake persists for a little time and then it disappears permanently. Thus, practical ignorance persists for some time even after the truth (rope) is realized, in the case of avidyā.

Energy appearing to be matter is an example of māyā. You may study atoms using powerful microscopes and instruments and realize that the sub-atomic particles are after all, only waves of energy. That scientific knowledge and analysis only removes your theoretical ignorance. But in spite of it, your practical experience of matter will not disappear, throughout your life or even throughout all your future lives! Therefore, māyā is the divine power of God, whereas avidyā is just like a shadow, which is the soul’s ignorance of true knowledge.

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| Shri Dattaswami | What is the difference between theoretical and practical ignorance with regard to maayaa and avidyaa | avidya Maayaavachchinna Iishvarah Avidyaavachchinno Jiivah Ajnaana aavaranam vikshepah