Moh and Moha: Attachment, Delusion, and Discernment

In Sanskrit philosophy, moh or moha refers to delusion and confusion—often the consequence of unconscious attachment. Mirabai explicitly rejected moha, the false attachments that bind the soul: social status, family obligation, marital duty without love. Yet she embraced genuine attachment to Krishna, distinguishing between attachment to illusion and attachment to truth. This dual framework clarifies modern relationship confusion: not all attachment is healthy. Anxious attachment often stems from moha—delusion that you need another's validation to be whole, or that love means suffering. Avoidant attachment can mask moha—the false belief that independence requires emotional distance. Healthy attachment, by contrast, is clear-eyed: seeing your partner realistically, understanding your own needs, and choosing connection as an act of truth rather than compulsion. Mirabai's life teaches discernment: examine whether your attachment serves your authentic self and spiritual growth, or whether it binds you to illusion. Love what is real; release what is false.