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PHILOSOPHY
B14 - Fourteen Gunasthäna: Stages of Spiritual Development
allow for significant progress. They are named Upasham Sreni (suppression ladder) and Kshapak Sreni (annihilation ladder) according to their nature
From this stage of spiritual development, the soul may go down to stage 6 (vi) of Negligence or may progress on the pathways called Srenis (ladder), which may be the Suppression of the Karma known as Upasham Sreni or the Annihilation of the Karma known as Kshapak Sreni. If the soul goes to stage 6 (vi), it can come back to stage 7 (vii) and this process of going back and forth can continue for a long time, until death or until one of the Srenis is attained. Very very few souls can go higher than the seventh stage (vii) during the 5th Ärä from Bharat Kshetra. In respect of Srenis also, only Kshapak Sreni (Annihilation of Karma) can ensure complete liberation (and not the Upasham Sreni). The inclination and preparation for these Srenis takes the being to the next stage, number eight, called Apurva Karan Gunasthäna. From stage 7 (vii) to stage 10 (x), the soul purifies itself by progressively reducing passions (Kashayas). Of course, Mithyätva, Avirati, and Pramäda have already been discarded. This stage is therefore the beginning of the four stages of progressive purity, which prepare the soul for the higher stages, of 11, 12 and 13. At the same time, this stage being on the border is full of chances of downfall of the soul to lower stages due to Karma manifestation and due to Pramäda (negligence), etc.
In this Gunasthäna, Darshan-saptak, four types of Apratyakhyäni Kashaya and four types Pratyakhyani Kashaya of are suppressed, eradicated or a combination of both. However, no
negligence (Pramäda) exists. 08. Apurva-karan or Nivritti-bädara Gunasthäna
As implied by its name, this stage involves unprecedented (Apurva) attainments by the soul facilitating it for the path of liberation. These are the destruction of intensity (Rasaghäta) and duration (Sthitighät) of bound Karma. Through such processes of purification, the soul begins to ascend on one of the two Srenis (ladders), either the Upasham Sreni (Suppression ladder) or the Kshapak Sreni (annihilation ladder). Some of the other processes the soul undergoes for the sake of the rise on the Srenis are called Gunashreni i.e., reduction in the duration of Karma and Gunsankram or conversion of harsh Karma into the mild ones. All these important events in the evolution of the soul are unusual and unprecedented; therefore, the name given to this stage is Apurva (Unprecedented) Karan Gunasthäna. The fact is reiterated that all these events in the sphere of activities of the soul are due to the Karma - old and new and their manifestation,
suppression or annihilation. 09. Anivritti-bädara Gunasthäna
A stage of even greater purity of thought than the earlier one, this stage takes the soul to the verge of enlightenment. In this stage, the soul continues further purification based on one of the two Srenis (ladders) started in the eighth Gunasthäna; - Upasham (suppressing of Karma) or Kshapak (Annihilation of Karma), which determines its future destiny. However, in this stage there is the possibility of Deluding (Mohaniya) Karma manifesting in its crude (Bädara) form. The striking feature of this stage is a high degree of suppression or destruction of Karma with resultant purity of the soul and progress to the next stage. However, if the soul allows itself to be afflicted by Karma, it may go
back to lower stages too. 10. Sukshma-samparäya Gunasthäna
In this stage of a high degree of purity of the soul, there do remain some traces of Deluding Karma (Mohaniya) in the form of the smallest amount of subtle greed. If this is also overcome, the soul progresses to stage 11 or 12. If the soul suppresses (Upasham) the subtle greed, then stage 11 is reached. If the soul annihilates (Kshaya) it, then stage 12 is reached. Henceforth, the distinction between the two Srenis is that while there is no liberation from Upasham Sreni while the kshapak Sreni leads to Moksha- as will be explained later. This is the stage up to which both Yoga (activities) and Kashaya (passions) are present, though the latter is of a very minute (Sukshma) degree. It does not allow the soul to go to the higher stages, 11
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Compendium of Jainism - 2015
