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The knowledge, which is acquired by understanding words, writing or gestures, is known as articulate knowledge (scripture knowledge). The Karma that obscures this process of gaining knowledge is known as articulate knowledge - scripture knowledge obscuring Karma. For this reason, some people can remember and understand things after reading them only once, while others cannot remember and understand even after reading them many times. For the same reason, some people have better understanding of scripture than others. Every soul with one to five senses has this knowledge. Clairvoyance knowledge obscuring (Avadhi Jnänävaraniya) Karma: The soul through clairvoyance knowledge can see material things far beyond what the normal eyes can see, without the help of the senses or mind. The Karma that obscures this type of knowledge is known as "Clairvoyance knowledge obscuring Karma". The celestial and infernal souls have this knowledge by birth. Certain humans with very high levels of spiritual growth may attain this knowledge. The degree may vary with the level of spiritual growth. Tirthankars have this knowledge since the time of conception. Telepathy knowledge obscuring (Manah-paryaya Jnänävaraniya) Karma: The soul through telepathy knowledge can know the mental thoughts of others without the help of senses and mind. The Karma that obscures this type of knowledge is known as telepathy knowledge obscuring Karma. Tirthankars attain telepathy knowledge at the time of initiation into monkhood. Some extraordinary monks at very high levels of spiritual progress may attain this knowledge. Omniscient knowledge obscuring (Keval Jnänävaraniya) Karma: The soul is capable of knowing the past, present, and future of all substances in the whole universe at the same time. Such knowledge is known as Keval-jnän and the Karma that obscures this type of knowledge is known as omniscience knowledge obscuring Karma. Arihantas, Kevalis, and Siddhas have destroyed omniscience knowledge obscuring Karma and that is why they have attained omniscience. This knowledge of course includes the above four types of knowledge. This Karma has been compared with a blindfolded person. Some of the effects of knowledge obscuring Karma are ignorance, inability to understand inability to learn, illiteracy, stammering, etc. Knowledge obscuring Karma is accumulated if we condemn knowledge, scholars, enlightened people, show laziness, contempt, or displeasure in studying and learning, or show any disrespect for knowledge and knowledge related things, e.g. tearing off the pages, burning papers and throwing books around, etc. Knowledge obscuring Karma can be shed by worshipping knowledge, paying reverence and respect to the Gurus and teachers, respecting the books and scriptures, and by studying religious books regularly with humility, etc. When one gets rid of all types of knowledge obscuring Karma completely, one will develop omniscience and acquire infinite knowledge (Anant-inän). His/her soul will know everything from the past, present, and future all at the same time. Darshanävaraniya Karma (Perception Obscuring Karma) In Jainism the word Darshan conveys more than one meaning. Darshan means perception (general knowledge) and also it means faith or belief or vision. One should determine its proper meaning based on its usage. Here Darshan (perception) implies general or non-specific knowledge of things as opposed to specific knowledge, which is meant by Jnän. The Bondage of Karma, which obscures the powers of general perceptions of the soul, falls in this category. This general perception is of four types and the Karma obscuring these four perceptions are the types of perception obscuring Karma as listed below:
Sight perception obscuring Karma (Chakshu Darshanävaraniya): The general perception that is acquired with the help of eyes or sight is sight perception and Karma obscuring this power is sight perception obscuring Karma.
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