Jaina Acara Siddhanta aur Svarupa

Author(s): Devendramuni
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 69

Jaina Acāra : Siddhanta aura Swarūpa
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(3) Anāgamībhūmi - Here an aspirant tries to end attachment with beauty, nonbeauty, deceit, insolence and ignorance. On crossing this hurdle he attains the status of 'Arhata'. He who dies in the course of their annihilation is born in Brahmaloka and attains liberation after having conquered the remaining passions. He need not be born again. This is comparable to the stages from eighth to twelfth.
(4) Arhatabhūmi - This status is attained only when the above ten obstructions are removed. It is comparable to 'Sayogi Kevali' stage.
The Mahāyāna has given ten stages of spiritual development as follows :
(1) Pramudita - This is the stage of purifying conduct. The aspirant is intent on doing good to the people, who when enlightened, delight him. The first step is to know the path and the second is how to walk on it. His spiritual practices are aimed at achieving perfection. It is comparable to the Jaina fifth and sixth stages.
(2) Vimalata - It is to be rid of immoral conduct and then to practise for the attainment of quiet perfection. Its characteristic is the acquisition of knowledge and the goal is to experience aesthetic thrill. It may be compared with the Jaina 'Apramaltasamyata' stage.
(3) Prabhākarī - The aspirant means to disseminate the refulgence of Buddhistic lore. It may be compared to the aforementioned Jaina stage.
(4) Arcismati - Wisdom, like a burning flame, combusts the two veils: the knowable and ‘kleša'. The first is purified due to a special kind of intention of dharmanairatmya or unsubstantiality of things as they appear. The second is destroyed due to the practice of intention of pudgalanairatmya or the unreality of the individual ego. The practice is aimed at attaining perfect energy. It is comparable to the Jaina 'Apurvakarana' stage.
(5) Sudurjaya - It is to strengthen piety and righteousness as also to conquer sorrow and suffering. Since all this is hard to achieve, it is 'durjaya'. The aspirant practises to attain perfection in meditation. It may be compared with stages from eighth to eleventh.
(6) Abhimukhi - Having acquired the supreme or perfect knowledge the aspirant sees no difference between the world and liberation. The world he sees no more as an obstruction. Its consummation lies in acquiring perfect knowleldge.
(7) Dūranagama - The aspirant goes beyond permanence and transitoriness. He becomes competent for emancipation and instructs others too with a view to improving them to lead a holy virtuous life. He attains all kinds of perfectly pure life and becomes proficient in all lores. It may be compared with ‘Kšīnamoha' stage.