I think the early discourses are referring to a specific thing, namely the elimination of what has been translated as ‘fundamental ignorance.’ That term makes it sound like it involves a metaphysical claim about knowledge of reality, but my best guess is that it has to do with the whole perceptual stack being ignorant of fundamental aspects of its own functioning. There are recurring passages referring to a specific endpoint with people knowing when ‘what needed to be done has been done.’
I think the early discourses are referring to a specific thing, namely the elimination of what has been translated as ‘fundamental ignorance.’ That term makes it sound like it involves a metaphysical claim about knowledge of reality, but my best guess is that it has to do with the whole perceptual stack being ignorant of fundamental aspects of its own functioning. There are recurring passages referring to a specific endpoint with people knowing when ‘what needed to be done has been done.’