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KARMA
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THE MECHANISM
Each higher stage brings about a substantial acceleration of development and our ability to comprehend. This acceleration can be compared to the mechanism of an e-curve, which after a long, drawn-out starting-phase with only few small changes, rapidly increases in dynamic to reach the final state only a short time later.
APPLICATION
Though we may spend long time in gunasthana one and four, we should not infer that the higher stages require an equal amount of time for their unfoldment. From the fifth gunasthana onwards we experience an unprecedented acceleration of our development that cannot even be imagined in the preceding stages.
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This acceleration is further supported by the fact that entire groups of karmas that are active only on a lower stage, automatically fall off once we stabilize our consciousness on a higher level. The broader and more comprehensive understanding of the new level automatically dissolves our emotional attachment to these themes of life (karmas), which then dissipate without manifesting much of an effect. Though this may sound like magic, it is nothing other than what we experience while growing up. Tasks that needed all our energy and attention when we were in the playing pen - e.g. putting three wooden blocks on top of each other - cease to occupy our attention as soon as we grow out of them. Though we could build far better towers when we are 16, we would never even think of doing so.
We can use this mechanism to accelerate our development significantly. If - instead of 'battling' annoying and limiting theses of life on the level on which they occur - we shift our attention to higher levels, these themes will dissipate in a similar way as they did in the playing pen.
This description is a brief overview. The characteristics, mechanisms and inner logic of the gunasthanas are far more extensive and complex than can be covered in this book. For deeper understanding it is recommended to read Gommatasara - Jiva Kanda and Karma Kanda.
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