Book Title: Portrait of Jain Religion
Author(s): Narendra Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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Page 90
________________ The next seven GUNASTHANAS (6,7,8,9,10,11 and 12) apply to ascetics, and reflect escalated degree of Sadhana for soul purification and achieving true knowledge and right and rational perception. They are : (1) PRAMATTA SAMYAT or SARVA VIRATI – Stage of taking Mahavrat (five major vows of an ascetic) with wholehearted mind-set, but may not yet be totally free from tempting desires and impulses; (2) APRAMATTA VIRATI - Critical stage with intense and dedicated practice of Mahavrat and strengthening vigilance; APURVA KARANA - At this stage the soul achieves SHUKLA DHYAN indicative of almost total selfcontrol. The soul acquires a unique psychic force for targeting total annihilation of karmas; ANIVRITTI KARANA - Intense spiritual activity, heightened self-control, and beginning of thought and conduct eluding karmas; (5) SUKSHMA SAMPARAYA - The stage is now set for total rooting out of karmic impulses and not merely suppressing them. There may still remain subtle degree of attachment to life; (6) UPASANTA MOHA - Stage for intense effort to eliminate lingering passions that could still tilt the scale of spiritual equanimity achieved so far; KSHINA MOHA - This is the point of no return having attained total equanimity after destroying both gross as well as subtle psychic impulses. This is just one step before achieving enlightenment. The last two GUNASTHANAS (13 and 14) take the soul to its supreme realization. They are : (1) SAYOGA KEVALI - This is the stage of spiritual 79 A Portrait of Jain Religion Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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