The Shroud of IgnoranceAvijjānīvaraṇasutta

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Mendicants, I do not see a single shroud, shrouded by which people wander and transmigrate for a long time like the shroud of ignorance.“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekanīvaraṇampi samanupassāmi yena nīvaraṇena nivutā pajā dīgharattaṁ sandhāvanti saṁsaranti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, avijjānīvaraṇaṁ. Shrouded by ignorance, people wander and transmigrate for a long time.”Avijjānīvaraṇena hi, bhikkhave, nivutā pajā dīgharattaṁ sandhāvanti saṁsarantī”ti.

The Buddha spoke this matter.Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. On this it is said:Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“There is no other thing“Natthañño ekadhammopi, that shrouds people like ignorance.yenevaṁ nivutā pajā; Veiled by delusion,Saṁsaranti ahorattaṁ, they transmigrate day and night.yathā mohena āvutā.

Those who have given up delusion,Ye ca mohaṁ pahantvāna, shattering the mass of darkness,tamokhandhaṁ padālayuṁ; wander no more,Na te puna saṁsaranti, the root is not found in them.”hetu tesaṁ na vijjatī”ti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.