Moha (Buddhism)

Translations of
moha
Englishillusion[1],
delusion
Sanskritमोह
moha
Pali𑀫𑁄𑀳, moha
Burmeseမောဟ
Chinese
Indonesiandelusi,
kebodohan batin
Khmerមោហៈ, មោហ៍
(UNGEGN: Moŭhă, Moŭh)
Tibetanགཏི་མུག
(Wylie: gti mug;
THL: timuk
)
Thaiโมหะ
VietnameseSi

vô minh
無明
Glossary of Buddhism

Moha (Sanskrit: मोह; Pali: 𑀫𑁄𑀳; Tibetan phonetic: timuk) is a concept in both Hinduism and Buddhism, meaning illusion[1] or delusion. In Hinduism, it is one of the six arishadvargas (also known as shadripus). In Buddhist thought, Moha, along with Raga (greed, sensual attachment) and Dvesha (aversion, hate) are unskillful roots that lead to Tanha (craving) which is part of the Twelve Nidanas that propel the wheel of life. It is symbolically present as the pig in the center of Tibetan bhavachakra drawings. Moha refers to desire and attachment to the world or worldly matters.[2][3][4] It is sometimes synonymous with "ignorance" (Avijjā).[2]

Moha is identified in the following contexts within the teachings of Buddhism and Hinduism:[5]

  • One of the three unwholesome roots within the Theravada Buddhist tradition
  • One of the fourteen unwholesome mental factors within the Theravada Abhidharma teachings
  • Equivalent to avijjā within the Theravada Abhidharma teachings
  • One of the three poisons within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition.
  1. ^ a b "Moha means - Vaniquotes".
  2. ^ a b Robert E. Buswell Jr.; Donald S. Lopez Jr. (2013). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton University Press. pp. 546, 59, 68. ISBN 978-1-4008-4805-8.
  3. ^ Thomas William Rhys Davids; William Stede (1921). Pali-English Dictionary. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 543. ISBN 978-81-208-1144-7.
  4. ^ Damien Keown (2004). A Dictionary of Buddhism. Oxford University Press. pp. 8, 47, 143. ISBN 978-0-19-157917-2.
  5. ^ Damien Keown (2004). A Dictionary of Buddhism. Oxford University Press. pp. 8, 47, 89, 106, 143. ISBN 978-0-19-157917-2.