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the contemplation of the pure and unflawed form of the soul. This pure and white contemplation (Sukla Dhyāna), possible only in the absence of delusion, goes on to achieve the soul's separation from the other three destructive types of karma, namely the Knowledge obscuring karma, the Vision obscuring karma and the Obstructive karma. As soon as this is achieved the soul rises to the next (thirteenth) stage on the spiritual scale – that of Embodied Omniscient Stage, the stage, which can be considered as a stepping stone to final deliverance or Moksa. The duration of this stage is only an Antarmuhurta. 13. Embodied Omniscient Stage (Sayogi Kevalī Gunasthāna)
This is the thirteenth stage on the scale of spiritual virtues, attained by a soul that has achieved a complete and irresidual separation from the four destructive types of karma. This stage is marked by Perfect delusion free disposition achieved by the destruction of Deluding (Mohanīya) karma, the Omniscience achieved through complete annihilation of the Right-knowledge obscuring (Iñānāvaranīya)karma, Perfect vision achieved through destroying the Right-vision obscuring (Darśanā-varanīya)karma and Perfect spiritual prowess achieved by the separation of Obstructive (Antarāya) karma. It is called 'Sayogi' because the perfect soul is still embodied in the body that is associated with it from birth. The freedom from the confinement of the body can be achieved only when the remaining four non-destructive types ofkarma are also shed by the soul. This happens with the passage of time as the life-span determining karma comes to an end. Two other non-destructive types of karma - Nāma karma and Gotra karma also come to an end with the Āyu karma. In some cases, however, some portion of feeling producing (Vedanīya) karma remains unexhausted and that has to be exhausted before the soul can liberate. As it is not possible to extend the life-span in any case, this exhaustion of the unexhausted Vedanīya karma is achieved by a special procedure called Kevali Samudghāta in which the soul-spaces of the omniscient soul are spread
GUNASTHĀNA ( SPIRITUAL STAGES): 217
