Introduction to Jaina Sadhna

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 76

Code of Conduct for a Jaina Monk: 69
passions (pratyākhyānikaṣāyacatuṣka ).
6. In spiritual journey of the soul the sixth stage is called pramatta-samyata-guṇasthāna. It is the stage in which the self observes right conduct fully. He observes five mahāvratas and other rules of moral conduct of a monk. Yet he has an attachment towards his body and due to this attachment the spiritual inertia is still there. Though he observes right conduct, yet he has a lack of self awareness. This is the stage of self-control with spiritual inertia. At the end of this stage the aspirant tries to subside or annihilate the third set of four passions and spiritual inertia and climbs the seventh ladder.
7. The seventh stage is the stage of self control and self awareness alongwith freedom from spiritual inertia, which is technically known as apramatta-samyata-guṇasthāna. At this stage the self has full control over his passions and observes the moral code without any negligence. He does not have any attachment towards his body. This stage can be attained by overcoming the nine types of pramäda or unawareness and the three sets of four types of passions. From this stage there are two ways open for the upward spiritual journey of the soul. They are technically known as upaśama-śreņi and Kṣapakaśreņi. Upasama-śreni is the path of suppression or subsidence while the kṣapaka-śreni is the path of annihilation. In the former, one climbs to the spiritual height through the suppression of the passions, but in the latter, one climbs to the spiritual height through the annihilation of passions. The person, who climbs the ladder of spiritual progress by suppressing his passions, is bound to fall from spiritual heights but the person who climbs up the ladder of spiritual heights through the annihilation of his passions ultimately attains nirvana or emancipation.
For Jainas the spiritual development through suppression is not a right method of spiritual development.