Ahimsa and Jainism

Author(s): Vijayvallabhsuri
Publisher: Vallabhsuri Smarak Nidhi

Page 86

( 79 )
some of the enlightened and ominiscient souls are capable of revealing the truth to the world at large by founding a fresh religious order. They are called Tirthankaras, ford-makers. As spiritual leaders, they establish religious communities ( samgha), consisting of monks, nuns, laymen (shrawakas) and laywomen (shravika). They are embodiments of th= highest virtues and achievements. The period of their lives between attaining omniscience (kevala-jnana) and giving up their bodies is devoted to preaching ihe truth and serving as spiritual guides to the world,
STAGES OF SPIRITUAL PROGRESS
Emancipation of self-realizatiòn is naturally a slow process requiring a preparation of several life-periods. Jainism characteristically sets up a gradation of fourteen levels of spiritual development (gunasthana ). They mark a sort of sequence of higher and higher stages of the pilgrim's progress along the path of omniscience.
CONCLUDING REMARKS From this sketchy account it will be dear that the belief in transmigration of soul and the association of the soul with karman and its
emancipation therefore permerits the Jain school