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VI. MYSTICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF JAINA ETHICS
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5) When there is Ardhapudgalaparāvartana Kāla for the deliverance of the self, it prepares itself for the fifth Labdhi, namely, Karaṇa Labdhi, which guarantees for it spiritual conversion. According to the Gommatasāra (Jivakānda), Samyagdarśana is acquired by that self which is in any one of the four conditions of existence, is destined to liberation, is possessing mind, is fully developed, is awake, and is having purity, determinate knowledge and auspicious Leśyā. Karana Labdhi admits of three-fold classification: a) adhahpravrttakarana b) apūrvakarana and c) anivettikaraṇa. Each of these lasts for an antarmuhūrta3 (less than fortyeight minutes). In the process of Adhaḥpravșttakaraṇa the soul reduces the duration and intensity of Karmas to a considerable extent. b) In Apūrvakaraṇa, on the other hand, the soul passes at every instant through such new states as it never experienced before, and reduces the duration and intensity of Karmas still further. c) “The third process of Anivsttikaraṇa leads the soul to the verge of the dawn of the first enlightenment that comes like a flash on account of the absolute subsidence of the Karmic matter of the vision-deluding (Darśana-mohanīya) Karma". Just after the termination of the period of this Karaņa the soul experiences the first dawn of enlightenment or spiritual conversion. "Even as a person born blind can see the world as it is on the sudden acquisition of eyesight, so can a soul having experienced the vision can see the truth as it is. Even as a person suffering from long-drawn disease experiences extreme delight on the sudden disappearance of the disease, so does a soul eternally bound to the wheel of worldly existence feels spiritual joy and bliss on the sudden dawn of enlightenment. This spiritual conversion is called Upasama-samyaktva, because it is due to the subsidence of Darśana Mohanīyas (vision-deluding) Karma that deluded the self, and it is as pure as the pure water in which the filth has settled by the use of Nirmali etc.
TYPES OF SAMYAKTVA (SPIRITUAL CONVERSION) AND POSSIBILITY OF FALL TO LOWER STAGES, NAMELY, (A) SASĀDANA GUŅASTHĀNA AND (B) MIŚRA GUŅASTHĀNA: This conversion which is known as Pratha
1 Gomma. Ji. 651. 2 Labdhi. 33. 3 Ibid. 34. Labdhi. 36, 51. 5 Studies in Jaina Philosophy, p. 272. 6 Labdhi. 2. 7 Studies in Jaina Philosophy, p. 273. 8 It may be noted here that Darsana-mohaniya Karma and Anantānubandhi passions
are intertwined with each other. 9 Gomma. Ji. 649.
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