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Stages of Spiritual Development
207 joyments. The soul is absolutely ignorant as to its true destiny. It is at animal plane of existence, where indiscrimination and wanton activities predominate. This state can be compared to saṁsāraprāgbhāra of Yoga and prthagjana of Buddhism.
A person, identifying himself with the body,' relatives and possessions, 2 is afraid of self-destruction at their separation. Even if he performs penances, it is with a view to attain worldly pleasures.
The first three guṇasthānas consist of extrovert souls. Subhacandra, while commenting upon Kārtikeyānuprekṣā, says that the jivas in the first, second and third guṇasthānas are called utkrsța, madhjama and jaghanya, bahirātmans respectively.5 2. Antarātman :
With this stage begins the dawn of moral consciousness. Licentious activities are checked by voluntary regulations. This state corresponds to kaivalyaprāgbhāra of Yoga and srotāpanna of Buddhism.
Here the aspirant distinguishes between the self and the non-self. He relinquishes all the eight types of pride.? This stage is also classified under three categories. The best type of antarātman includes those who observe the five great vows, are steadfast in dharma and sukladhyāna and overcome all types of pramādas. This includes stages from the 7th gunasthāna (apramattasamyata) to the 12th guṇasthāna (kṣīņakaṣāya).8 The next best type of antarātaman includes those who observe the vows of a householder and a stage in the 6th guṇasthāna. The lowest type of antarātman is of those who, though possessed of right attitude, are devoid of observance of any moral vow.10
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1. Kārtikeyānuprekşā, 193. 2. Jñānārņava, 32.17, 21. 3. Ibid., 32.18.
Samadhisataka, 42.
Subhacandra on Kārtikeyānuprekşā, 193. 6. Mokşapāhuda, 17. 7. Kārtikeyānupreksā, 194. 8. Ibid., 195. Also Subhacandra on it. 9. Ibid., 196. 10. Ibid., 197
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