First Steps to Jainism Part 2

Author(s): Sancheti Asso Lal, Manakmal Bhandari
Publisher: Sancheti Trust Jodhpur

Page 59

Stages of Progress of the Soul 45
caused by Karma (matter) contaminating the soul. As such the worse and more intense the association of Karma with the soul, lower the stage of the soul in this categorisation. Conversely lesser and lighter the Karma load on the soul, the higher and better is the stage it attains.
2 (c) Karma may appear as the immediate cause determining Gunasthans, but since Karma in turn accrue, arise or subside by Yoga (vibration), Kashaya (passion), Pramad (negligence), Avirati (indiscipline) and Mithyatva (false faith) as seen earlier-these ultimately are responsible for soul's progress or downfall. As the Yoga and Kashaya etc. are committed by the soul itself with or without other conditions participating in the final and ultimate analysis it is the soul itself which determines its Gunasthan or its development or downfall. The manifestation of Karma in their different varieties and aspects like Prakritis, Udaya, Udirna, Bandh, Satta etc are described in detail in the Karma Grantha alongwith the relevant Gunasthana. In brief all these have found mention in the chapter on Theory of Karna of which, this chapter may be considered as a supplement.
2 (d) Though only fourteen stages are identified there are innumerable points on the path of liberation on which the soul transits up and down or at which it stays-- just like numerous points or stations on a railway route though the path is identified by a few important or junction stations. The soul has been on this path since times immemorial and will be so till its final liberation, which is its final destination being completion of spiritual development.
2 (e) The Gunastnan, on which the soul may be, varies from moment to moment depending on its Karma Udaya or Kshyopsham or Raag Dvesh or Yoga Kashaya, just as blood pressure of a man varies from moment to moment. To identify the Gunasthan of a being exactly at any moment is only possible for the Keval Gyani the Perfect Being since it is a purely spiritual barometer; it is not possible of assessment by ordinary beings--who can only form some idea by the external conditions, circumstances and behaviour of the beings.
2 (f) The movement of the beings from one Gunasthan to an other is not in strictly numerical order i.e. first to second and so on but the soul moves up and down on the spiritual path according to