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DEFINITION OF ATTACHMENT TO POSSESSIONS
17. Infatuation is attachment to possessions. It is said 'murccha'. What is mūrcchā (infatuation)? Murcchā is activity relating to the acquisition and safeguarding of possessions such as the cow, the buffalo, jewels, pearls and so on, and also inward thoughts like desire and so on. Now, this word is used to denote fainting or swooning. Why should it not mean fainting here? Yes, it is true. The verb 'murcch' is used in the general sense of insensibility. What is mentioned in general applies to the particular also. The general meaning implies the particular meaning also. This is the section dealing with attachment. And the particular meaning of infatuation or delusion is applicable here. Even then external things cannot be included under attachment, as those belonging to the self are included. It is true. Of course, the internal thoughts only are included as being important. Even in the absence of external things, he who thinks 'this is mine' is an infatuated person. If so external things cannot at all become attachment. On the other hand, if these become objects of attachment because of the infatuation, 'this is mine', then knowledge and understanding also would become infatuation. For knowledge also is considered 'this is mine' as desire and so on. But it is not so. The phrase 'out of passion' is supplied from the previous sutra. So the passionless person possessed of right faith, knowledge and conduct is free from delusion. Hence there is no infatuation in his case. Further knowledge is not fit to be disregarded or cast off, and it is also the essential characteristic of the soul. So it is not infatuation. Desire etc. are fit to be cast off, as these are the effects. of karmas and contrary to the nature of the soul. So infatuation in these is attachment. Infatuation or attachment is at the root of all evils. If a person has the idea of 'this is mine', he has to safeguard it. In safeguarding it, violence is bound to result. For its sake he utters falsehood. He also commits theft and attempts copulation. And this results in various kinds of pain and suffering in the infernal regions.
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He, who realizes thus the evils of injury etc. and the merits of non-injury and so on, is vigilant in observing the vows.
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