Jain Journal 2002 04

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

Page 28

BRAHMESHANANDA: THE LADDER OF SPIRITUAL ASCENT
8th stage: apurvakaraṇa guṇasthāna
This is a special stage and a very important milestone in the spiritual journey. It is characterized by a unique hitherto unexperienced (apūrva) joy and various spiritual realizations consequent on the reduction of karmic coverings. There is no more identification with the body, and among passions only subtle greed and deceit (samjvalana lobha and māyā) remain.
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Another special feature of this stage is the aquistion of sufficient spiritual energy to undertake the subtle intense struggle ahead. The aspirant realizes in retrospect that the soul's journey so far had been made possible not so much by its inherent strength-though it had always tried to manifest its inherent powers-but with the help of favourable circumstances. The journey further on will predominantly be through self-effort rather than through destiny. For the first time the aspirant gets a glimpse of the desired goal and feels certain of its attainability.
The seeker's spiritual strength and mastery over karma manifest themselves at this stage in the form of a five-fold technique called apurvakarana, through which the aspirant rapidly reduces his karmas. The technique consists of:
1. sthitighata-reducing the duration of fruition of past actions (karma vipaka);
2. rasaghata-minimizing the intensity of fruition of actions;
3. guna-śreni-arranging karmas in such a way that their effect can be experienced even before the actual time of their fruition; 4. guna-sankramana-transforming the nature of the effect of karmas, e.g. turning an evil karma to bear an advantageous fruit; and
5. apurvabandha-minimizing the duration and intensity of fruition of karmas being performed in the present time (kriyamāņa karma).
9th stage: anivṛttikarana guṇasthāna
The aspirant ascends to this stage by suppressing or destroying all lustful desires, which in Jainism are called veda, and all passions except subtle greed.