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PHILOSOPHY
B14 - Fourteen Gunasthäna: Stages of Spiritual Development
karana, for the short duration equal to the time taken in uttering five short vowels. This is followed by liberation not only from the body, but also from worldly existence and Karma Bondage for all times to come.
03 Summary This brief description of Gunasthäna can be closed with some further remarks to throw light on their salient features from the point of view of spiritual development. The first three stages are marked by external activity of the soul, when it is involved with things other than itself and the soul is Bahirätmä (extrovert). From stage fourth to twelfth, it becomes Antarätmä (introvert) concerned with its own welfare. In the last two stages, the soul attains godhood and is called Paramätmä (the perfect soul). From the point of view of Karma Bondage, it has to be noted that the five causes (Mithyätva, Avirati, Pramäda, Kashaya and Yoga) determine (along with the Bondage) the stage (Gunasthäna), and their presence or absence result in regression or progression of the soul on these stages, respectively. When all the five causes of Bondage persist in the soul, it remains either in the first stage of Mithyatva or the third stage of Samyag Mithya-drashti. When the soul gets rid of Mithyätva (False Vision) but if the other four causes subsist, it can rise up to stages number four and five; Säsvädana, Avirata and Desha-virat. By getting rid of Avirati (Undisciplined life), the soul can reach stage number six; Pramatta Virat because Pramäda (negligence) is persisting. By getting rid of Pramäda, the soul reaches stage seven or Apramatta Virat and if capable continues to stage ten Sukshma Samparaya through further purification. Thus from stage seven (7) to stage ten (10) only two causes of Bondage remain viz., Kashaya (Passions) and Yoga. By freeing itself from passions (Kashäya), the soul can reach up to stages (11), (12) and (13) called Upasham Moha, Kshina Moha and Sayogi Kevali. At the end of stage, number (13) the soul also stops Yoga and enters stage (14) - Ayogi Kevali state for a very brief moment and relinquishes the body thus achieving liberation or Moksha. The following table provides clearer relationships between Gunasthäna and the causes of Karma Bondage, Meditation (Dhyana), Leshyä (States of Mind) and type of soul: 04 Relationships among Gunasthäna, Karma, Leshyä, and Dhyana No Gunasthän Causes of Karma Meditation Leshyä (States of Mind) Type of Soul
Bondage Present (Dhyana) 1 Mithya- All five (Mithyatva, Ärta & All Six (Krishna, Neel, Kapot, Bahirätmä drashti Avirati, Pramäda, Raudra Tejo, Padma & Shukla) (Extrovert)
Kashäya & Yoga) Säsvädana Avirati, Pramäda, Ärta & All Six (Krishna, Neel, Kapot, Bahirätmä Kashäya & Yoga Raudra Tejo, Padma & Shukla)
(Extrovert) Samyag
All five (Mithyatva, Ärta & All Six (Krishna, Neel, Kapot, Bahirätmä Mithya- Avirati, Pramäda, Raudra Tejo, Padma & Shukla) (Extrovert) drashti Kashäya & Yoga) Avirata Avirati, Pramäda, Arta,
All Six (Krishna, Neel, Kapot, Antarätmä Samyag- Kashaya & Yoga Raudra & Tejo, Padma & Shukla) (Introvert) drashti
Dharma Desha-virat Avirati, Pramäda,
Ärta,
All Six (Krishna, Neel, Kapot, Antarätmä Samyag- Kashäya & Yoga Raudra & Tejo, Padma & Shukla) (Introvert) drashti
Dharma
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Compendium of Jainism - 2015
