Jain Journal 1988 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 18

JULY, 1988
if he is found to be suffering from an incurable disease and if he is in a sane state of mind, fully aware of the consequences of his decision. Suicide, as a matter of fact, should not be mixed up with the exercise of an individual's right to die as the former is not a sane decision (Patrika, Jaipur, January 30, 1985). Jain Acarya Santisagar's death in August 1955 can also be cited as the holy death fasting upto last moment.
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Fourteen Spiritual Stages (Gunasthānas):
This is the third type of division of spiritual stages called gunasthāna in the Jaina scriptures. It is fourteen in number stating the nature of the self in possession of the ratnatraya (right vision, right knowledge, and right conduct) on the path of purification. The first stage is the lowest one which involved gross ignorance (mithyadṛṣṭi). Here the self accepts wrong belief as right therefore the person cannot make a distinction between reality and unreality. The second stage is sāsādana in which the soul, though in transitory stage, has a taste of right knowledge. The third säsādana samyagdṛṣṭi indicates the mixture state of right and wrong belief. The fourth is asamyata samyagdṛṣṭi where the soul achieves right vision but cannot perform the conduct. The fifth deśasamyata shows the trends of the soul for adopting partial vows prescribed for a layman. The sixth pramattasamyata onward relates to the ascetic order. Here the soul observes the ascetic conduct but mild passions make him impure. The seventh stage apramattasamyata makes the ascetic free from negligence and breach of vows. It is said that the ascetic cannot go beyond this stage in the present era as he does not possess that purity. The eighth stage apurvakarana indicates highly purified mind of the self who does not go down. The practice of śukladhyāna starts from this stage. Pride is also altogether destroyed in this stage. In the next anivṛttikarana stage deceit totally disappears and the soul advances further to sukṣmasamparāya stage where all passions are annihilated except slight greed which is destroyed in the eleventh stage upasantamoha. From here the aspirant may fall back to the lowest stage. In the kṣinakasaya the soul becomes free from delusion and attains kaivalya (omniscience). The soul upto this stage is called chadmastha. The next stage (sayogakevali) enjoys the omniscience in its embodied state. And the last fourteenth stage ayogakevali is the most pure stage where all the passions and karmas are annihilated by the third and fourth stages of sukladhyāna.
This is a brief picture of the spiritual development in fourteen steps which can be comprehended by the three main divisions, viz. the external