________________
GUNA-STHANAS
165
The fourteen stages of spiritual evolution have been enumerated in verses 9 and 10 of Jiva Kāņda of Gommațasăra. They are : 1) Mithyåtva (delusion), 2) Sásadana (downfall), 3) Miśra (mixed). 4) Avirata Sainyaktva (vowless right belief), 5) Deśavirata (partial vow), 6) Pramatta-virata (imperfect vow) 7) Apramatta-virata (perfect vow), 8) Apūrva-karaņa (new thought-activity), 9) Anivýtti karana (advanced thought activity), 10) Sūkşma Samparāya (slightest delusion) 11) Upaśānta Moha (subsided delusion), 12) Kşiņa Moha (delusionless), 13) Sayoga Kevali Jina (vibrating omniscient conquerer), 14) Ayoga Kevali (non--vibrating omniscient). These should be known as fourteen spiritual stages in the order enumerated. After the last stage, the soul becomes liberated. The fourteen stages have been designated on the basis of the prominent thought activity at each succeeding stage of evolution. We shall deal with each of them in the same order.
1) Mithyātva (Delusion)
This is the stage when a soul is affected by wrong belief due to the deluding or infatuating Karmas. It is the stage of false belief or conviction. Such a person does not believe in the right path. He does not believe in reality and the values of truth and goodness. On the other hand, he sticks to wrong beliefs, and the right beliefs are unpalatable to him. Such a person will not believe in the seven principles. His beliefs are one sided, perverted, doubtful, false or indiscriminate. The consciousness of the soul in this state is obsessed with ignorance.
Jainism is based on reason and logic. In the five aforesaid mental states, there is some belief or the other. There are people who believe in wrong practices and superstitious creeds. When a soul is involved in such wrong beliefs, the person becomes perverted. The loss of faith is due to the recurrence of the kaşāyas whose subsidence is essential to the manifestation of the insight. Truth has no meaning or value to him. A wrong believer does not believe in the noble doctrines preached by the Jinas: This is a stage of spiritual blindness which is due to the Darśanā
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
