Page Text
________________
Eight Stages of Self-Realisation
Exactly like the eight-fold path of self-discipline in Yoga, Haribhadra has given a lucid account of self-realisation according to Jainism He has given a list of eight stages of self-discipline leading to the complete cessation of all our activa ties These stages are styled Mitra, Tara, Bala, Dipra, Sthira, Kanta, Prabha, and Para Of these, the first four are fallible and unsteady, while the last four are not so At the first stage one has very faint spiritual light At the second stage the enlightenment is a bit distinct One possessing it 18 in a position to practise selfrestraint The third stage is possessed of more distinct enlightenment One possessing it is capable of controlling the various postures At the fourth stage one gets control over breath For him, spiritual realisation is more valuable than life At the fifth stage one is capable of deep thinking and good conduct He withdraws his senses from external objects The sixth stage is in the form of internal concentration At the seventh stage the person develops self-meditation His power of right discrimination is fully developed The eighth stage is the consummation of development The person now attams ecstasy He gradually destroys all his obscuring (Ghatı) Karmas and achieves omniscience In course of time the nonobscuring (Aghatin) Karmas are also annihilated Thus, he attains final liberation and is completely free from all the Karmas
Professor of Jaina Philosophy. Department of Philosophy, University of Poona, PUNE (Maharashtra)
Knowledge is like food, and becomes ours only when it is absorbed, assimilated and digested by the mtellect
-Key of Knowledge
As water for certain washes away blood, so does the giving of foodto homeless saints, without doubt, destroy the sins incidental to a house
cod, so does the gryn
holder
maints, without doubt.
--Ratnakaranda Sravakachara
2
| SR No. | 011085 |
| Book Title | Perspectives in Jaina Philosophy and Culture |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Satish Jain, Kamalchand Sogani |
| Publisher | Ahimsa International |
| Publication Year | 1985 |
| Total Pages | 269 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 12 MB |