Are both knowledge and ignorance necessary for attaining BLISS/BRAHMAN?

 

 

Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa stated,   in respect of gradual removal avidya(ignorance) in an individual, as follows:

"The mango grows and ripens on account of the covering skin. You throw away the skin when the mango is fully ripe and ready to be eaten. It is possible for a man to attain gradually the knowledge of Brahman because of the covering skin of maya. Maya in its aspects of vidya and avidya may be likened to the skin of the mango. Both are necessary."

The explanation to his cryptic message is as follows:

The outer layer of maya/avidya is essential to keep the 'mango' (soul) protected and developing until it is mature. If you remove the skin too early, the fruit cannot mature. Avidya (lower knowledge/worldly entanglement) and Vidya (higher knowledge) are both described as the skin of the mango. Both are necessary at different stages to lead to Brahman, and even Vidya is to be discarded upon merging with BRAHMAN.

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Rig Veda and Īśāvāsyopaniṣad said the same thing, using different vocabulary.

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Rig Veda 4.2.11

चित्तिमचित्तिं चिनवद्वि विद्वान्पृष्ठेव वीता वृजिना च मर्तान् । राये च नः स्वपत्याय देव दितिं च रास्वादितिमुरुष्य ॥
cittim acittiṃ cinavad vi vidvān pṛṣṭheva vītā vṛjinā ca martān | rāye ca naḥ svapatyāya deva ditiṃ ca rāsvāditim uruṣya ||

English translation:

Insight and lack of insight will the knowing one [=Agni] distinguish, like backs, straight and crooked, (like) mortals. And for the sake of Wisdom and good BLISS for us, o god, both grant Diti (avidya – limited knowledge) and make wide space for Aditi (unending knowledge).

Īśāvāsyopaniṣad, verse 11

विद्यां चाविद्यां च यस् तद् वेदोभयं सह ।
अविद्यया मृत्युं तीर्त्वा विद्ययामृतम् अश्नुते ॥ ११ ॥

vidyāṃ cāvidyāṃ ca yas tad vedobhayaṃ saha |
avidyayā mṛtyuṃ tīrtvā vidyayāmṛtam aśnute || 11 ||

“Whoever understands both knowledge and ignorance together — having transcended death incurred through ignorance, he reaches immortality by means of knowledge.”