Vijjā (f.) [cp. Vedic vidyā knowledge: etym. see under vindati] one of the dogmatic terms of Buddhist teaching, varying in meaning in diff. sections of the Canon. It is not always the positive to avijjā (which has quite a well-defined meaning from its first appearance in Buddhist psych. ethics), but has been taken into the terminology of Buddhism from Brahmanic and popular philosophy. The opposite of avijjā is usually ñāṇa (but cp. S iii.162 f., 171; v.429). Although certain vijjās pertain to the recognition of the "truth" and the destruction of avijjā, yet they are only secondary factors in achieving "vimutti" (cp. abhiññā, ñāṇa -- dassana & paññā). That vijjā at M i.22 is contrasted with avijjā is to be expld as a word -- play in a stereotype phrase. -- A diff. side of "knowledge" again is given by "bodhi." <-> (a) Vijjā is a general, popular term for lore in the old sense, science, study, esp. study as a practice of some art (something like the secret science of the medicine man: cp. vejja!); hence appld in special, "dogmatic" sense as "secret science," revelation (put into a sort of magic formula), higher knowledge (of the learned man), knowledge which may be applied and used as an art (cp. magister artium!), practical knowledge; but also mysterious knowledge: "charm." -- (b) vijjā, having a varying content in its connotation, is applied to a series of diff. achievements. A rather old tabulation of the stages leading by degrees to the attainment of the highest knowledge is given in the Sāmañña -- phala -- sutta (D i.63 -- 86), repeated in nearly every Suttanta of D 1. It is composed of the 3 sampadās, viz. sīla˚, citta˚ & paññā˚. Under the first group belong sīla( -- kkhandha), indriya -- saŋvara, sati -- sampajañña, santuṭṭhi; the second is composed (1) of the overcoming of the nīvaraṇas, (2) of the 4 jhānas; the third consists of 8 items, viz. (1) ñāṇa -- dassana, (2) manomaya -- kāya, (3) iddhi, (4) dibba -- sota, (5) ceto -- pariyañāṇa, (6) pubbe -- nivās' ânussatiñāṇa, (7) cut' ûpapatti -- ñāṇa, (8) āsavānaŋ khaya -- ñāṇa. Other terms used are: for the 2nd sampadā: caraṇa (D. i.100), and for the 3rd: vijjā (ibid.). <-> The discussion at D i.100 is represented as contradicting the (brahmaṇic) opinion of Ambaṭṭha, who thought that "vijjā nāma tayo Vedā, caraṇaŋ pañca sīlāni" (DA i.267 sq.). -- In the enumn of 3 vijjās at M i.22 sq. only Nos. 6 -- 8 of the 3rd sampadā (said to have been attained by the Buddha in the 3 night watches) with the verbs anussarati (No. 6),pajānāti (7), abhijānāti (8), each signifying a higher stage of ("saving") knowledge, yet all called "vijjā." Quoted at Vism 202, where all 8 stages are given as "aṭṭha vijjā," and caraṇa with 15 qualities (sīla -- saŋvara, indriyesu guttadvāra etc.). The same 3 vijjās (No. 6, 7, 8) are given at D iii.220, 275, and poetically at A ii.165 as the characteristics of a proper (ariya, Buddhist) monk (or brāhmaṇa): "etāhi tīhi vijjāhi tevijjo hoti brāhmaṇo," opposing the threeVeda -- knowledge of the Brahmins. -- Tevijja (adj.) in same meaning at S i.146 (where it refers to Nos. 3, 5, 8 of above enumn), 192, 194. Inbrahmanic sense at Sn 594 (=tiveda SnA 463). Both meanings compared & contrasted at A i.163 (aññathā brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇaŋ tevijjaŋ paññāpenti, aññathā ca pana ariyassa vinaye tevijjo hoti "different in the Brahmanic and diff. in the Buddhist sense"). -- Tisso vijjā (without specification, but referring to above 6, 7, 8) further at Vin ii.183; Sn 656; Ps i.34; ii.56; Pv iv.134; Miln 359 (+chaḷabhiññā); DhA iv.30 (id.). It is doubtful whether the defn of ñāṇa as "tisso vijjā" at Vin iii.91 is genuine. <-> On vijjā -- caraṇa see also D iii.97, 98, 237; S i.153, 166; ii.284; v.197; A ii.163; iv.238; v.327; Sn 163, 289, 442. -- On vijjā in the doctrinal appln see: D iii.156, 214, 274; S ii.7 sq. (cakkhu, ñāṇa, paññā, vijjā, āloka); iii.47; 163; 171; iv.31, 49 sq. A i.83; ii.247; Sn 334 (simply meaning "wisdom," craft, care, but Bdhgh SnA 339 takes it as "āsavānaŋ -- khaya -- ñāṇa"), 1026 (opposed to avijjā); Pug 14, 57; Vbh 324; Nett 76, 191. -- (c) popular meanings & usage of vijjā: science, craft, art, charm,spell D i.213 (Gandhārī nāma v., also mentioned at J iv.498 as practised by physicians), 214 (Maṇika n. v.); J iii.504 (Cintāmaṇi v.); iv.323 (vatthu˚: see under vatthu), 498 (ghora˚); v.458 (anga˚ palmistry); Miln 200; Dh i.259 (bhūmicala n. v. "earthquake" charm), 265 (dhanu -- agamanīyaŋ Ambaṭṭha n. v.); KhA 237 (vatthu˚, khetta˚, anga˚); and see the list of forbidden crafts at D i.9 (anga˚, vatthu˚, khetta˚ etc.; cp. Dial. i.18, 19).

 -- gata having attained wisdom Sn 730 (opp. avijjā; the playful expln at SnA 505 is "ye arahatta -- maggavijjāya kilese vijjhitvā gatā khīṇāsava -- sattā"). -- caraṇa ( -- sampanna) (endowed with) special craft (wisdom) & virtue: see above, b. -- ṭṭhāna branch of study; there are 18 vijja -- ṭṭhānāni or "arts & sciences," subjects of study, referred to at J i.259. -- dhara a knower of charms, a sorcerer J iii.303, 529; iv.496; v.94; Miln 153, 200, 267. -- bhāgiyā(dhammā) (states) conducive to wisdom (6 kinds of saññā) A iii.334; cp. D iii.243; S v.395; A iv.52 sq. -- mayā (iddhi) (potency) accomplished by art or knowledge (Expos. i.122) Vism 383; see iddhi. -- vimutti wisdom (higher knowledge) as salvation S v.28, 335 sq.; Ps ii.243 (in detail).