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Jain scriptures describe the two aspects of mohaniiya karma as its two powers. They are:
1. Darshana-moha: deluded perception
2. Chaaritra-moha: deluded conduct
The second power follows the first one. If the first power is strong, the second one will be strong. If the first one is weakened, the second too shall be weakened. Both powers are lethal for the soul seeking liberation as they do not allow it to see the truth and act on it.
Darshana mohaniiya karma is further categorised into 3 sub-categories, and chaaritra mohaniiya karma is further categorised into 25 sub-categories. First four of chaaritra mohaniiya karma are perception deluding while rest are conduct deluding. Together with 3 sub-categories of darshana mohaniiya karma and first four sub-categories of chaaritra mohaniiya karma, total seven form an iron covering that stops the soul from attaining samyaktva. In order to attain samyakdarshana and samyakchaaritra, one has to pierce this iron covering.
Importance of five Labdhis {spiritual attainments) in attaining samyaktva
The capacity of attaining samyaktva is known as 'labdhi'. 'Labdhi' means spiritual attainment. The soul has five kinds of dispositions. These are known as "labdhis' {attainments).
1. Kshayopashama Labdhi: The ability that helps the soul take birth in a sentient five-sensed body, realise what is beneficial and distinguish it from that which is harmful to the soul is known as the Kshayopashama Labdhi. This ability can appear in a human child when he/she becomes eight years old. Hence, even a child of that age can begin walking on the path of liberation.
2. Vishuddhi Labdhi: Vishuddhi is the unique unblemished state of the soul. This unblemished state is achieved once the soul remains firm in its desire to move away from material wealth and pleasures and feels indifference to worldly objects and to life. Such a person questions who is himself, and seeks answers to philosophical and existentialist questions such as what is the purpose of life, what causes birth and death, what causes pleasure and pain, what causes transmigration, etc.
3. Deshanaa Labdhi: is the capacity of getting the opportunity of learning at the feet of spiritual masters and making good use of that opportunity by listening to sermons that explain the reality of the world, understanding them and pondering on them.
4. Praayogya Labdhi: is the capacity of taking birth as a five-sensed being along with mind. These four labdhis are fairly common. All five-sensed sentient living beings can have them. Having them is no guarantee of attaining samyaktva. In fact, even abhavya jiivas (living beings who are utterly incapable of attaining liberation) can have the first four labdhis.
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