Grammatical Analysis
Amoha: [m.] Non-delusion; undeludedness; wisdom. Formed by negative prefix a (not) + moha (delusion, ignorance, blindness).
Orthodox Definition
Amoha is the third and most powerful of the Wholesome Roots (kusala-mūla). In Abhidhamma terminology, Amoha is the exact equivalent of the mental factor of Wisdom (paññā-cetasika).
While non-greed and non-hatred can arise in a worldly, uneducated person performing a basic good deed, Amoha specifically involves cognitive illumination. It is the ability to see reality exactly as it is (yathābhūtaṃ). It ranges from the basic intellectual understanding of the law of karma (knowing that good actions yield good results) to the supreme, piercing insight of the supramundane paths that completely destroys ignorance (avijjā).
The commentaries compare Amoha to a brilliant lamp brought into a pitch-black room; it instantly banishes the darkness of delusion, revealing the true shapes of impermanence, suffering, and non-self.
Textual References
- Abhidhamma: Dhammasaṅgaṇī – Explicitly equating amoha with the faculty of wisdom (paññindriya), investigation of states, and right view.
- Commentary: Atthasālinī – Providing the simile of the expert archer; just as the archer hits the target unfailingly, amoha strikes the true nature of reality without missing.