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PHILOSOPHY
B14 - Fourteen Gunasthäna: Stages of Spiritual Development
the first stage of complete unbelief - Mithyätva, or making a recovery and rising up to higher stages
with right faith. 04. Avirata Samyag-drashti Gunasthäna
In this stage the soul, though having been blessed with Right Belief and Right Knowledge, is not able to proceed on the path of Right Conduct in as much as it is not capable of adopting the vows for the lack of will, power and energy. The path of salvation consists of all the three elements of Right Belief, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct, the last one consisting of vows. Due to the operation of Karma, the being may have Right Faith and Right Knowledge and even know and accept the vows of Right Conduct, but due to weakness it is not able to properly practice the vows. The Right Faith may be due to suppression (Upasham) or annihilation (Kshaya) of Faith Deluding Karma as a result of which the being attains this stage from stage (1) Mithyätva. The barrier on conduct is due to the rise of Conduct Deluding Karma on the other hand. As such from this stage, the door is open for the soul to rise or fall. In the case of rise, it may proceed forth to higher stages by suppressing the Karma or annihilating them. In case of a fall, it goes to stage (2) and thence to stage (1); or to stage (3) and further on as stated earlier. In any case, the souls that have once touched this Gunasthäna, must reach their destination of Nirvana though it may take time; the maximum limit of which is Ardha (half) Pudgal Parävartan or a very long time. In this Gunasthäna, three types of Faith Deluding (Darshan Mohaniya) Karma and four Anantänubandhi Kashaya (these seven Karma are called Darshan-saptak) are either suppressed, eradicated
or a combination of both. 05. Desha-virat Shrävak Gunasthäna
When a being gathers sufficient will and power to persevere on the path of spiritual and moral progress, it adopts the Vows (Minor vows) meant for laymen (Shrävak) thus partially refraining from sins ensuring partial self-control. Thus it achieves this stage, number five, though due to the partial manifestation of Deluding Karma it is still not able to completely renounce the world which is required for the next stage. This is the highest stage possible for a layman; hereafter all higher stages require adoption of asceticism by renouncing the world for achieving complete self-control. This stage is important because it is a starting point for the being to adopt Right Conduct and to begin discarding an undisciplined life (Avirati) though only partly. In this Gunasthäna, Darshan-saptak and four types
of Apratyakhyäni kashaya are suppressed, eradicated or a combination of both. 06. Pramatta-samyat Gunasthäna
In this stage of spiritual development, the soul renounces the world completely, ensuring complete self-control by adopting all the major vows prescribed for a Sädhu for purity of conduct. However, occasionally it tends towards negligence (Pramäda), hence, the name is Pramatta or negligent Samyat Gunasthäna. These manifestations are essentially the product of the Karma bondage of deluding Karma (Mohaniya). Depending upon the dispensation of Karma the being may land down in stage (v) Desha-virat or even in stage (iv) of Avirata Gunasthäna from this stage. However, if it is able to adjure negligence (Pramäda) it may progress to the next stage No. 7 (vii) Apramatta Samyat Gunasthäna. The salient feature of this stage is a completely disciplined life by adoption of all the five Major Vows (Mahä-vrata). This means complete dedication to the practice of the Three Jewels; - Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct which is prescribed as the royal road leading towards liberation. Thus, in this stage the second cause of Bondage of Karma i.e. Avirati is also discarded by the soul. In this Gunasthäna, Darshan-saptak, four types of Apratyakhyäni Kashaya and four types Pratyakhyäni Kashäya are suppressed, eradicated or a combination of both.
However, negligence (Pramäda) exists. 07. Apramatta-samyat Gunasthäna
Herein are Sädhus who have not only adopted all vows and self-control but also avoid negligence (Pramäda) completely. Next a soul will travel on one of the two spiritual ladders, one of suppression/subsidence of Karma and other of complete annihilation of Karma. Obviously only the latter can lead to liberation; the former may lead back to lower stages, though it may temporarily
Compendium of Jainism - 2015
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