Rajgeeta English Translation and Comentry on Atmasiddhi Shastra

Author(s): Shrimad Rajchandra, Manu Doshi
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Mission

Page 213

Sixth Fundamental-Path and Means of Liberation
there can be as many types of Karma as the number of activities. There could thus be infinite types of Karmas. The seers have specified 148 (or 158) categories of Karma. All of them can be classified in 8 broad divisions. Four of them are called Ghäti, in the sense that they adversely affect the capability of soul. The remaining four are called Aghäti, because they do not adversely affect the capability of soul. Knowledge-obscuring, perception-obscuring, deluding, and obstructing are four defiling (Ghäti) categories. They can be overcome (except for the deluding Karma) by putting in enough efforts. In other words, it is not too hard to overcome the impact of obscuring, and obstructing Karmas.
The deluding category, as the name suggests, is delusive. It deludes the worldly soul, whereby it thinks and perceives wrongly. This is comparable to a drunkard. If one has taken too many drinks, he loses his sense of judgment. He thinks of different persons and of various objects the way they are not. He loses his discernment and may even think of his wife as being his mother or vice-versa. Similarly the worldly soul fails to have the right understanding due to the impact of deluding Karma. Under that impact it forsakes its true nature and identifies itself with the body. Thereby it tends to overlook its true nature and considers the well being of the body as the objective.
Under the influence of deluding Karma one looks for happiness where it does not lie. He does not realize that different worldly situations arise as consequence of his earlier Karma and that they have no capability to provide happiness. He therefore indulges in the sense of attachment for situations that he thinks are the sources of happiness and in resentment for those that he considers otherwise. Thereby he acquires new Karma and continues to wander in the cycle of birth and death. It is therefore said here that the deluding Karma is the most hurtful, and one needs
189