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virtue-stations is a spiritual phenomenon and there are no physical manifestations of this process. The process is controlled by the karma-matter associated with the soul at any given point of time. These are, in turn, the outcome of the physical, mental and vocal activities of the material embodiment of the soul as well as of its psychic or volitional dispositions such as passions, attachment and aversion and delusion or their opposites.
(The position of the soul on this scale is, therefore, a continuously changing one depending on the changes
in these causatory factors.) D. There are three processes (Karaṇa) that help the process
of spiritual progress. They are 1. Normal endeavour method (Yathāpravrtti Karaṇa) in which the progress in cutting the Gordian knot of false-belief or getting bogged down in the mire of falsehood depends on the soul's own efforts, 2. Exceptional endeavour method (Apūrva Karaṇa) in which the soul's progress in accelerated by exceptional spiritual endeavour, and 3. Passions annihilating method (Anivrtti Karana) in which the most
persistent passions are shed by the soul. E. During its spiritual journey beyond a certain stage the
soul is helped further only by karinic destruction (separation by annihilation) and not by suppression or destruction cum suppression. Accordingly, beyond the eighth station there are two paths or ladders that the soul can take. These are known as Subsidential ladder (Upaśama Sreni) and Destructional ladder (Ksapaka Sreni). The first is reversible, that is the soul that ascends the subsidential ladder certainly regresses back. The second ladder is irreversible. The ascendance on this ladder is permanent and leads to the ultimate accomplishment of perfect spiritual emancipation and liberation from the miseries of the mundane existence,
GUNASTHĀNA ( SPIRITUAL STAGES): 209
