________________
218
Jaina Ethics
virya, ananta darśana and ananta sukha) are obtained. It may be mentioned that it is only in this gunasthāna that the jñānāvaraṇīkarmans are removed. The actual struggle consists of conquering the passions. Hence the importance of conduct rather than that of knowledge in Jainism. Here only the Yoga, out of the four causes of bondage, remains. But the bondage lasts only for two samayas; and that bondage relates only to four aghāti karmans viz. vedaniya, āyuş, nāman and gotra. Due to the existence of these karmans, the soul has bodily existence and can be compared to jivanmukta of Vedanta.
14. Ayogakevali gunasthāna:1
At the end of the thirteenth stage, the aspirant prepares himself for salvation. In case the duration of Vedaniya, naman and gotra is longer than that of ayus, he equalises these karmans by a process called samudghāta. Then the soul proceeds to check the three yogas also. This is done in the following order.
The gross mental and vocal activities are checked by gross physical activities, which are checked by subtle physical activities in turn. Subtle physical activities also check subtle mental and vocal activities. The subtle physical activities are checked by sukṣmakriyānivṛtti type of sukladhyāna. Here the subtle activity of body is checked by itself. This dhyāna also makes the soul contract and fill up the cavities of body. The soul is thus reduced to two-third of its previous volume. Then the soul enters the last type of sukladhyāna which is called samucchinna kriyātipāti, which stops all activities and leads to what is called failesikarana i.e. a state of complete motionlessness. This state lasts for only as much time as is required to pronounce five short vowels. At the end of this period the soul leaves the embodied state for ever and goes straight above, to the end of the universe, to enjoy its inherent blissfulness for ever.
1. Virasena on Satkhaṇḍāgama, 1.1.22. (Vol. I, p. 192). Also Ibid., 65.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
