Dear Ads Khalsa Ji,

Spiritual blindness/ignorance is the shore less ocean of darkness, with no light at the end of the tunnel. The belief in selected Hukamnamas or the philosopher’s stone, the jewel in the serpent’s head, alchemy, and miracles is all a matter of ignorance. Those engaged in the worship of idols, symbols, materialism, gods, goddesses, in fasting, uttering blessings and curses, are all living in spiritual ignorance. By reciting Sabd Guru’s hymns without understanding, even a good person cannot find acceptance by Akal Purkh. Without reflecting on the message of the AGGS or applying them in life, no wandering mind can find stability.

Ignorance is a lack of knowledge, or a willful lack of desire to improve the efficiency, merit, effectiveness or usefulness of one's actions. Ignorance is also a "state of being ignorant" or remaining unaware or uninformed.

Spiritual ignorance is a very serious matter. It is said that "What you don't know won't hurt you". We all know that is incorrect and yet it seems that many people have adopted that philosophy toward spiritual matters. Many people are destroyed for lack of spiritual knowledge. Spiritual ignorance is not merely the lack of knowledge, but also the self-destructive turning away from the truth in all areas of life. To be ignorant of one's ignorance is a further malady of the ignorant. Due to spiritual ignorance the practice of any faith is quite inconsistent with the tenets of that faith. Guru Nanak in Siri Raag and Sloke Vaaran to Vadheek ponders on the subject;

ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ਘਰੁ ੪ ॥

Siree Raag, First Mehl, Fourth House

ਕੀਤਾ ਕਹਾ ਕਰੇ ਮਨਿ ਮਾਨੁ ॥ ਦੇਵਣਹਾਰੇ ਕੈ ਹਥਿ ਦਾਨੁ ॥ ਭਾਵੈ ਦੇਇ ਨ ਦੇਈ ਸੋਇ ॥ ਕੀਤੇ ਕੈ ਕਹਿਐ ਕਿਆ ਹੋਇ ॥੧॥ ਆਪੇ ਸਚੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਚੁ ॥ ਅੰਧਾ ਕਚਾ ਕਚੁ ਨਿਕਚੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਜਾ ਕੇ ਰੁਖ ਬਿਰਖ ਆਰਾਉ ॥ ਜੇਹੀ ਧਾਤੁ ਤੇਹਾ ਤਿਨ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਫੁਲੁ ਭਾਉ ਫਲੁ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਆਪਿ ਬੀਜਿ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਖਾਇ ॥੨॥ ਕਚੀ ਕੰਧ ਕਚਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਰਾਜੁ ॥ ਮਤਿ ਅਲੂਣੀ ਫਿਕਾ ਸਾਦੁ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਆਣੇ ਆਵੈ ਰਾਸਿ ॥ ਵਿਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਸਾਬਾਸਿ ॥੩॥੩੨॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-youth/25393-answers-from-guru-granth.html

Bẖāvai ḏe▫e na ḏe▫ī so▫e.Kīṯā kahā kare man mān. Ḏevaṇhāre kai hath ḏān. Kīṯe kai kahi▫ai ki▫ā ho▫e. ||1|| Āpe sacẖ bẖāvai ṯis sacẖ. Anḏẖā kacẖā kacẖ nikacẖ. ||1|| rahā▫o. Jā ke rukẖ birakẖ ārā▫o. Jehī ḏẖāṯ ṯehā ṯin nā▫o. Ful bẖā▫o fal likẖi▫ā pā▫e. Āp bīj āpe hī kẖā▫e. ||2|| Kacẖī kanḏẖ kacẖā vicẖ rāj. Maṯ alūṇī fikā sāḏ. Nānak āṇe āvai rās. viṇ nāvai nāhī sābās. ||3||32||
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25393

The seeker indulges in self esteem and pride? Yet all the gifts lie in Bestower’s hands. To give or not lies in Its pleasure. What power lies in creature’s self will? ||1|| God Itself is True; Truth is pleasing to Its Will. Man, purblind, with no illumination is all ignorantly raw. ||1||Pause|| It is the Master of trees and plants who cherishes them. Each is named according to its nature. Each is destined to grow flowers and fruits according to its devotion. Each raises the crop that he sows ||2||. Frail is the wall, of which the mason is raw. With poor realization, no joy in life will come. Fulfillment comes alone by Akal Purkh’s Grace, says Nanak. Divine approbation does not come with out devotion||3||32|| ------Guru Nanak, Siri Raag, AGGS, Page, 25

ਮਨਹੁ ਜਿ ਅੰਧੇ ਘੂਪ ਕਹਿਆ ਬਿਰਦੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਨੀ ॥ਮਨਿ ਅੰਧੈ ਊਂਧੈ ਕਵਲ ਦਿਸਨਿ ਖਰੇ ਕਰੂਪ ॥ਇਕਿ ਕਹਿ ਜਾਣਨਿ ਕਹਿਆ ਬੁਝਨਿ ਤੇ ਨਰ ਸੁਘੜ ਸਰੂਪ ॥ ਇਕਨਾ ਨਾਦੁ ਨ ਬੇਦੁ ਨ ਗੀਅ ਰਸੁ ਰਸੁ ਕਸੁ ਨ ਜਾਣੰਤਿ ॥ ਇਕਨਾ ਸਿਧਿ ਨ ਬੁਧਿ ਨ ਅਕਲਿ ਸਰ ਅਖਰ ਕਾ ਭੇਉ ਨ ਲਹੰਤਿ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਤੇ ਨਰ ਅਸਲਿ ਖਰ ਜਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਣ ਗਰਬੁ ਕਰੰਤ ॥੧੫॥

Manhu je anḏẖė gẖūp kahi¬ā biraḏ na jāṇnī. Man anḏẖai ūʼnḏẖai kaval ḏisan kẖarė karūp. Ik kahi jāṇan kahi¬ā bujẖan ṯė nar sugẖaṛ sarūp. Iknā nāḏ na beḏ na gī▫a ras ras kas na jāṇanṯ. Iknā siḏẖ na buḏẖ na akal sar akẖar kā bẖe▫o na lāhanṯ. Nānak ṯe nar asal kẖar jė bin guṇ garab karanṯ. ||15||

Those stone-blind in mind do not know the significance of the Master’s Word. Such mind blind are upturned lotuses and horribly ugly to behold. Those that know how to express the Truth, and follow what is imparted are wise of aspect. Some have neither realization of the holy word or holy texts nor have the joy of holy chanting. Some do not achieve or has any understanding or discretion by not realizing good and evil, and others by not knowing the meaning of holy Word is veritable asses with out merit and full of pride says Nanak.||15|| -----Guru Nanak, Sloke Vaaran To Vadheek, AGGS, Page, 1411

Spiritual blindness is grounded in falsehood, wrong and evil intentions. These selves are embedded in the consciousness of the individual or limited consciousness. This grows out of a personal attachment to the limitation born of falsity. It is further aggravated by consciousness governed by the life-ego veiling the Divine Knowledge.

Divine Knowledge is the awareness and understanding of facts, truths or information gained in the form of learning. The purpose of Divine knowledge is to find the Truth and develop inner cleanliness. It is developed by subjugating animal instincts and developing godly instincts or virtues. It is altogether a mistake to let ignorance dictate the policy of the truth at any time, but particularly so in an age when the truth has to contend with almost insurmountable difficulties. Ignorance is preferable to error. An individual is considered less remote from the truth if he believes in nothing than the one who believes what is wrong. Spiritual ignorance is going to persist in individuals, who do not try to sharpen their mind without an active attempt in controlling and purifying it with the medicine of Truth. Once the mind is brought to a stand still, in between two thoughts, it could energize itself and qualify itself to receive Akal Purkh’s Grace and be blessed with Divine knowledge. By remembering Akal Purkh’s Name and doing good deeds one is "spiritual awakened.” This may be accompanied by a sufficient change in one’s personality to bring about an understanding in many different forms of the "educational variety." Such a change may occur slowly over a period of time. The individual finally realizes that he has undergone a profound transformation in his reaction to life. He may realize that such a change could hardly have been brought about by him alone. What often takes place in a few months could seldom have been accomplished even through years of self-discipline. With a few exceptions these individuals tap an unsuspected inner resource, which they presently identify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves. Most of us think this awareness of a Power greater than ourselves is the essence of spiritual experience and call it "God-consciousness" achieved through the guidance of an enlightened spiritual Master.

Conclusion:

Misapprehensions are enchanting only to the spiritually blind mind. Divine knowledge alone removes ignorance. Once ignorance is dispelled, all its misapprehensions end. Once the mind is purified of egoism and illumined with the spiritual wisdom, all its misapprehensions end. Upon attaining this state of direct vision or understanding of the self, non-apprehension of reality will not rise again. When the true wisdom is attained, the unreality vanishes. Only the pure, all-pervading consciousness remains. Fullness of divine knowledge always and necessarily means some understanding of our ignorance, which is always conducive to both humility and reverence.

Cordially,

Virinder S. Grewal