The fundamental form of ignorance (Skt. avidyā) that is the root cause of suffering in cyclic existence.

The strong, deeply ingrained belief or perception that persons and all phenomena have a permanent self or essence that exists and does not change. The term ’dzin pa (Skt. grāha) means “grasping,” and is used both for grasping material things as well as the act of perceiving or conceiving mental objects.