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## Karma and Its Consequences
There is no distinction between the soul (Jiva) and non-soul (Ajiva). Knowledge (Jnana) is not considered a quality of the soul. Knowledge is the means by which the distinction between the soul and non-soul is made, as knowledge is a quality of the soul and not of the non-soul. The nature of the soul is eternal and cannot be destroyed. Therefore, the Karma of knowledge-obscuring (Jnana-Avarana) can only cover the qualities of the soul, not destroy them completely.
The analogy of a blindfold used here signifies that the thickness of the blindfold, whether it is thick or thin, will determine the extent of vision. Similarly, the power of the knowledge-obscuring Karma varies in its ability to cover.
Based on the five types of knowledge mentioned earlier, there are five corresponding types of Karma that obscure them:
1. **Mati-Jnana-Avarana:** This Karma obscures the knowledge of perception (Mati-Jnana). Different types of perception are obscured by different types of Karma, but all are collectively referred to as Mati-Jnana-Avarana because they are all forms of perception.
2. **Shruta-Jnana-Avarana:** This Karma obscures the knowledge gained through scriptures (Shruta-Jnana).
3. **Avadhi-Jnana-Avarana:** This Karma obscures the knowledge of clairvoyance (Avadhi-Jnana).
4. **Manah-Paryaya-Jnana-Avarana:** This Karma obscures the knowledge of mental perception (Manah-Paryaya-Jnana).
5. **Kevala-Jnana-Avarana:** This Karma obscures the perfect knowledge of omniscience (Kevala-Jnana).
**References:**
(a) Utsaradhya-Pan, A. 33, G. 4
(b) Sthananga, Sthan 5, U. 3, Sutra 464
(c) Tattvarth-Sutras, A. 6, Sutra 6