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112
THE DOCTRINE OF LIBERATION IN INDIAN RELIGIONS
stage. It also lasts for an antarmuhūra. 12. CONDITION OF DESTRUCTION OF PASSIONS (KȘIŅAKASAYA)
This is the highest stage when annihilation of karmas, including ghātiyakarmas, is achieved. The aspirant remains for an antarmuhurta in this stage and then attains kaivalya (omniscience). 13. OMNISCIENCE IN THE EMBODIED CONDITION (SAYOGA-KEVALI)
This is the stage of an arhat or tirthamkara. Here the self is possessed of body and yoga. Of the five conditions of bondage, the first four are completely destroyed but the yogic activities remain. The self attains omniscience and it remains in this stage for at least one antarmuhurta and not more than a pūrvakoti. This stage can be compared to the stage of jīvanmukti of other systems of Indian thought. 14. THE STATE OF SIDDHAHOOD (AYOGA-KEVALI)
This is the last and the highest stage where all the passions, activities and karmas are annihilated by means of third and fourth types of sukladhyāna. It lasts only for such a short time as is taken by uttering five letters a, i, u, r, Ip and then leads to complete liberation. 109
STAGES OF SPIRITUAL PROGRESS OF A HOUSEHOLDER (PRATIMĀS)
A true Jaina householder has to pass through eleven stages of spiritual progress, technically called pratima, in order to elevate his self and reach the highest stage of liberation. The word pratimā means a statue but Jaina thinkers conceived it as forming a regular progressing series. It is as Williams states "a sopānamārga, a ladder on each rung of which the aspirant layman is to rest for a number of months proportionate to its place on the list before he is fit to supplement and reinforce his achievement by the practice of the succeeding stage.”:}10 Thus pratimās are the ascending steps towards the ascetic conduct which itself is right conduct. There are eleven pratimas which are as follows:
1. The stage of right vision (darśana-pratima). 2. The stage of observing vows (vrata-pratimā). A Jaina house
holder should observe twelve vows consisting of five minor vows (aņuvrata), three gunavratas and four śikṣāyratas.
109. Gommatasāra, Jivakānia, 9-10. 110. R. Williams, Jaina Yoga, pp. 172-73.
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