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Jaina Path of Purification (Liberation)
67
STAGES OF SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT (GUŅASRENĪ OR
GUŅASTHANA) The Jaina thinkers recognise fourteen stages of spiritual development. They are called guṇasthānas. The term 'gunasthāna' means a state of spiritual quality. The development of the spiritual quality takes place through the fourteen stages.
In the acquisition of the spiritual quality, the living beings in the second and third stages are more advanced than those in the first and those in the fourth are more advanced than those in the second-third. Thus, living beings in the succeeding stages are more advanced than those in the preceding stages. But there is one exception to this. Initially, all the living beings are in the first stage. Of them some who make spiritual efforts gradually advance and pass through the successive stages; when they attain the twelfth stage, they become free from passions and destroy delusion; when they attain the thirteenth stage, they become liberatedwhile-living and at death they enter the fourteenth stage and at once attain the disembodied state of liberation. Those whose spiritual efforts are mild have to halt for long at several intermediary stages and to experience rise and fall many times. So, they take much time to reach the twelfth stage or the way leading to it. Some great spiritual practisers whose spiritual efforts are hard, advance very fast not halting at the intermediary stages for long, soon reach the twelfth stage and at once attain the thirteenth stage where they become omniscient.
Though the subject is very subtle, one will find it interesting provided one tries to understand it with due attention. It relates to the spiritual evolution of soul. There is the ladder with steps that helps living beings reach the palace of liberation. They start ascending the ladder from the first step. Some ascend slowly and some ascend fast. All make efforts according to their capacity. Some falter and fall down while ascending, because they are not vigilant and alert. While falling, some go down even to the first step. Even those who have attained the eleventh stage suddenly fall down when delusion strikes them. So, the works on the spiritual science have warned the living beings against being lethargic and negligent while ascending the ladder. Once a person has attained the twelfth
1. In the tenth chapter of Uttarādhyayanasūtra, Lord Mahāvīra has given good and
wholesome advice to all the living beings, though he directly addressed it to Indrabhūti Gautama. He said, "O Gautama! Do not be unmindful and careless even for a moment".
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