Nandanvana

SR No.: 006597
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2005
Total Pages: 592
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 25 MB

Page 72

(52) : Nandanavana
This purity depends inversely on karmic density. Thus, the spiritual stages reduce the karmic density gradually leading to better happiness. These stages represent the fluctuations and improvements of mental volitions of the living beings. It is observed that they form a ladder from which a person may fall or move upwards based on the nature of his volitions. A ladder, therefore, could be framed to understand this theory. There are many such ladders one of which is a serpent-ladder shown in Fig. 2 as per Mardia. It indicates a person may fall from stage 7 to 2 and 11 to 6 and may move upward from stage 5 to 8, 10 to 12 and 1 to 3. The elaboration of this theory needs another article.
Humans
Higher Life
Lower Lite
Fig. 2 : Serpent Ladder : Spiritual Stages (Guņasthāna)
One can, thus, see that many basic Jaina, postulates can be mathematically and graphically expressed. This approach may lead to better understanding the religion in comparison to expressing them in traditional way. It is hoped that many such formulae can be developed for many other tenets of Jaina religion.
References 1. Moore, Walter J.; Physical Chemistry, Orient Longmans, Delhi, 1969, p.
757. 2. Nyayacharya; Mahendra Kumar; Jaina Darśana, Varni Granthamala,
Varanasi, p. 99 Jain, G.R.; Cosmology: Old and New, Bharatiya Jnanapith, Delhi, 1974, p. 180.