Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominalization, nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cul ...
,
Pali
Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist '' Pāli Canon'' or '' Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of '' Theravāda'' Bud ...
: मोह; Tibetan phonetic: ''timuk'') is a concept in both Hinduism and Buddhism. In Hinduism, it is one of the six
arishadvargas
In Hindu theology, Arishadvarga or Shadripu/Shada Ripu ( sa, षड्रिपु; meaning the six enemies) are the six enemies of the mind, which are: ''Kama'' (desire), '' krodha'' (anger), ''lobha'' (greed), ''Mada'' (arrogance), '' moha'' ( ...
(also known as shadripus). In Buddhist thought, Moha, along with Raga (greed, sensual attachment) and Dvesha (aversion, hate) are unskillful roots that lead to Tanha (craving) which is part of the
Twelve Nidanas
Twelve or 12 may refer to:
* 12 (number)
* December, the twelfth and final month of the year
Years
* 12 BC
* AD 12
* 1912
* 2012
Film
* ''Twelve'' (2010 film), based on the 2002 novel
* ''12'' (2007 film), by Russian director and actor Niki ...
that propel the wheel of life. It is symbolically present as the pig in the center of Tibetan bhavachakra drawings. Moha refers to desire and attachment to the world or worldly matters. It is sometimes synonymous with "ignorance" ('' Avijjā'').
Moha is identified in the following contexts within the teachings of Buddhism and Hinduism:
* One of the ''three unwholesome roots'' within the Theravada Buddhist tradition
* One of the fourteen unwholesome mental factors within the Theravada Abhidharma teachings
* One of the
three poisons
The three poisons (Sanskrit: ''triviṣa''; Tibetan: ''dug gsum'') or the three unwholesome roots (Sanskrit: ''akuśala-mūla''; Pāli: ''akusala-mūla''), in Buddhism, refer to the three root kleshas: '' Moha'' (delusion, confusion), '' Raga'' ...
within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition.
Etymology and meaning
''Moha'' appears in the Vedic literature, and has roots in early Vedic word ''mogha'' which means "empty, unreal, vain, useless, foolish". The term, as well as the three defects concept appears in the ancient texts of Jainism and some schools of Hinduism such as
Nyaya
(Sanskrit: न्याय, ''nyā-yá''), literally meaning "justice", "rules", "method" or "judgment", The opposite of ''Moha'' is '' Prajna'' (insight, wisdom). Beliefs different from those considered as insights in Buddhism, are forms of delusions or Moha in Buddhism. Moha is one of the roots of
evil
Evil, in a general sense, is defined as the opposite or absence of good. It can be an extremely broad concept, although in everyday usage it is often more narrowly used to talk about profound wickedness and against common good. It is general ...
, in the Buddhist belief.
Application
In Hinduism "Moh" means attachment to people or things.
This world is dystopia and what we perceive as reality is simulated reality. Everything, including time,is an illusion. This illusion is known as "Maya" to which we have "moh" or an attachment.
Within the Mahayana tradition, ''moha'' is classified as one of the
three poisons
The three poisons (Sanskrit: ''triviṣa''; Tibetan: ''dug gsum'') or the three unwholesome roots (Sanskrit: ''akuśala-mūla''; Pāli: ''akusala-mūla''), in Buddhism, refer to the three root kleshas: '' Moha'' (delusion, confusion), '' Raga'' ...
, which are considered to be the root cause of suffering.
In the Mahayana tradition, ''moha'' is considered to be a subcategory of '' avidyā''. Whereas ''avidyā'' is defined as a fundamental ignorance, ''moha'' is defined as an ignorance of cause and effect or of reality that accompanies only destructive states of mind or behavior.Berzin, Alexander ''Berzin Archives, Glossary of Buddhist Terms'' ''Moha'' is sometimes replaced by ''avidyā'' in lists of the
three poisons
The three poisons (Sanskrit: ''triviṣa''; Tibetan: ''dug gsum'') or the three unwholesome roots (Sanskrit: ''akuśala-mūla''; Pāli: ''akusala-mūla''), in Buddhism, refer to the three root kleshas: '' Moha'' (delusion, confusion), '' Raga'' ...
. In contemporary explanations of the ''three poisons'', teachers are likely to emphasize the fundamental ignorance of ''avidyā'' rather than ''moha''.
See also
*
Kleshas (Buddhism)
Kleshas ( sa, क्लेश, kleśa; pi, किलेस ''kilesa''; bo, ཉོན་མོངས། ''nyon mongs''), in Buddhism, are mental states that cloud the mind and manifest in unwholesome actions. ''Kleshas'' include states of mind su ...
*
Mental factors (Buddhism)
Mental factors ( sa, चैतसिक, caitasika or ''chitta samskara'' ; pi, cetasika; Tibetan: སེམས་བྱུང ''sems byung''), in Buddhism, are identified within the teachings of the Abhidhamma (Buddhist psychology). They are ...
* Ajahn Sucitto (2010). ''Turning the Wheel of Truth: Commentary on the Buddha's First Teaching''. Shambhala.
* Mingyur Rinpoche (2007). ''The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness''. Harmony. Kindle Edition.