Book Title: $JES 904 Compendium of Jainism (Jain Academic Bowl Manual 3rd Edition)
Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Previous | Next

Page 115
________________ PHILOSOPHY B14 - Fourteen Gunasthäna: Stages of Spiritual Development B14 - Fourteen Gunasthäna: Stages of Spiritual Development 01 Introduction In the book "Outlines of Jainism" Shri J. L. Jaini defines that: "In Jainism fourteen stages are indicated through which the soul progresses from an impure state to the final pure state of liberation (Siddha). The psychical condition of the soul due to the fruition (Uday), partly settling down (suppression) and partly perishing of Karma matter (Kshayopasham) is called "Gunasthäna". In Jainism, the Gunasthänas describe the path, modalities and prerequisites for the bonded soul (Bahirätmä) to become a liberated soul (Paramätmä) through the path of internal progress (by becoming Antarätmä). The process begins with the soul, which is at the lowest stage from times immemorial, circulating in the cycles of births and deaths due to lack of true belief, true knowledge and true conduct. Since there is a divine spark in every soul (without which it will not be a living being), it is struggling to find its true identity and potential of becoming liberated. Thus, a constant struggle is going on between forces of darkness of wrong belief (Mithyätva) and forces of light of true belief (Samyaktva). Forces of darkness (Mithyatva) try to keep the soul tied down to the Samsär (worldly existence) while forces of light (Samyaktva) try to help the soul attain liberation. In the long run there comes a chance when by reducing its Karma load the forces of light (Samyaktva) prevail and the soul is able to break the shackles of Mithyätva (wrong belief) just like a piece of straw is able to escape out of a whirlpool. This is like cutting the Gordian knot and is also called Granthi Bhed in Jain terminology. Once this happens, the soul is set on the road of rising Gunasthänas. In other words, the pilgrim has found his path and the Pilgrim's Progress has begun which may ultimately lead to the liberation of the soul though it may take years and years. During this progress through different Gunasthänas, the soul has to encounter ups and downs and also very unusual and unprecedented experiences during the ascent. Gunasthänas denote purely spiritual exercise - the fourteen levels relate to the spirit or the soul it embodies. The progression or regression is of the soul and is on a spiritual scale and according to spiritual yardsticks. It cannot be seen, observed or measured in the physical world. Though the stages of spiritual development relate to the soul or are of the soul, they directly result from karma (matter) contaminating the soul. The worse and more intense association of Karma with the soul, the lower the stage of spiritual development of the soul. Conversely the lesser and lighter the Karma load is on the soul, the higher and better stage it can attain. Karma may appear as the immediate cause determining Gunasthänas, but since karma in turn accrue, arise or subside by Yoga (activities/vibration), Kashäya (passion), Pramäda (negligence), Avirati (indiscipline) and Mithyätva (false faith) as seen earlier, these ultimately are responsible for the soul's progress or downfall. As the Yoga and Kashaya etc. are committed by the soul itself with or without other conditions participating in the final and ultimate analysis, it is the soul itself that determines its Gunasthänak or its progression or downfall. Though only fourteen stages are identified, there are innumerable points on the path of liberation on which the soul transits up and down or at which it stays - just like numerous points or stations on a railway route are characterized by a few important or junction stations. The soul has been on this path since time immemorial and will be so till its final liberation, with its final destination being the completion of spiritual development. The Gunasthäna, on which the soul may be, varies from moment to moment depending on its Karma Uday (operation of karma) or Kshayopasham (destruction and suppression of karma), Räga and Dvesha (attachment and aversion) or Yoga and Kashaya (activity and passion). This is similar to one's blood pressure varying from one moment to the next. To identify the Gunasthäna of a being exactly at any moment is only possible by a Keval-jnäni (the Perfect Being) since it is a purely spiritual barometer. It is not possible for ordinary beings to assess one's spiritual stage since they can only form some idea by the external conditions, circumstances, and behavior of the beings. The real diagnosis is possible only by assessing the level of their thought process that no one other than Keval-jnäni can know. The movement of the beings from one Gunasthänak to another is not in strictly numerical order i.e. first to second and so on. The soul moves up and down on the spiritual path according to logical rules e.g. from Compendium of Jainism - 2015 Page 115 of 398

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400