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ETHICAL DOCTRINES IN JAINISM
evolution as propounded by Jaina Ācāryas. We shall try to subsume! these stages of spiritual advancement under the following heads, namely, 1) Dark-period of the self prior to its awakening, 2) Awakening of self and fall from awakening, 3) Purgation, 4) Illumination, 5) Darkperiod post-illumination, and lastly 6) transcendental life.
1) DARK PERIOD OF THE SELF PRIOR TO ITS AWAKENING OR MITHYATVA GUNASTHĀNA: The suffering on account of which the empirical souls remain in a perpetual state of discontent and disquiet is naturally consequent upon the beginningless functioning of Mohanīya (deluding) Karma, which on the psychical side engenders a complex state of 'Moha'. This state of 'Moha' which pollutes self's outlook, and consequently makes its conduct unfruitful for ascending the loftiest heights of mystical experience is a state of Mithyātva and Kasāya. At the outset, we shall confine ourselves to the exposition of the nature and function of Mithyātva, so extending it as to include its various types, since it constitutes the first stage, technically known as Mithyātva Guñasthāna. The consideration of the nature and function of passion will form the subject matter of next stages, to be presently dealt with.
Mithyātva is responsible for turning our perspective to such an illegitimate direction that in effect there ensues perverted belief or nonbelief in ultimate values. This effect of Mithyātva is so dominant that the self does not evince its inclination to the real path, just as the invasion of bile-infected fever does not create liking for sweet juice. In other words, the perverted selves are inclined to the unveracious path.4 Speaking from the metaphysical point of view, we may say that the self which has not imbibed the substantial outlook, but is devoted to impure modifications is called Parasamaya or Mithyādrsti.5
11) Dark-period of the self prior to its awakening-Mithyātva Gunasthāna; 2)
Awakening of the self-Aviratasamyagdīşti Gunasthāna; Fall from awakening(a) Sāsādana Gunasthāna: (b) Miśra Gunasthāna; 3) Purgation-a) Viratăvirata Guņasthāna: (b) Pramattavirata Gunasthāna; 4) Illumination-a) Apramattavirata Gunasthāna, (b) Apūrvakaraņa Gunasthāna, (c) Anivșttikaraņa Guņasthāna, (d) Sūkşmasāmparāya Gunasthāna, (e) Upaśāntakaṣāya Gunasthāna, (f) Ksiņakaņāya Gunasthāna: 5) Dark-period post-illumination-Fall to the first or the fourth Gunasthāna; 6) Transcendental life-(a) Sayogakevali Gumasthāna, (b) Ayogakevali Gunasthāna. 2 Sat. Vol. I., p. 163. Gāthā 107. 3 Gomma. Ji., 17. 4 $at. Vol. I., p. 162, 5 Prava. I. 1, 2.
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