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CHAPTER V
THE FOURTEEN
GUNASTHANAS
(SPIRITUAL STAGES)
According to Jain Philosophy there are 14 Spiritual Stages (Gunasthanas) of thoughtactivities, which a soul, desirous of being liberated and of attaining perfection has to pass through. The 14 Spiritual Stages which trace the progress of the soul from delusion to a condition of perfection are useful as a practical preliminary. In its highest essence the soul neither needs nor is capable of any divisions or stages; it is always itself infinite. The 14 Spiritual Stages are :
(1) Mithyatva, Wrong Belief, Delusion. The thought-activity of the soul due to the operation of the Right-Belief-Deluding Karmas. In this, the soul does not believe in the Right Path to Liberation. All 28 (3 & 25) sub-classes of Mohaneeya i.e. Deluding Karma may be present in this first and lowest stage. From here the soul always goes to the 4th Gunasthana.
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