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17
STAGES OF SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT (GUNASTHĀNA)
This, now, is from the point of view of generating karmas, as distinguished from the point of view we have previously had of the nature of the karmas. The matter now is about the generation of karmas.
In describing which causes generate any particular karma, stages are made use of as follows :
There are 14 gumasthānas or stages of development, Guņa means virtue, development, the coming out of the real nature and essence of the soul. Sthāna means stage.
These 14 may be roughly divided into 4 classifications (or five, see following), namely : (i.e. one for each cause).
One in which al four causes of karma work, i.e. the mithyātva, the avirati, the kasāya, and the yoga.
Another in which only the last three determinant causes work, that is, the avirati, the kaşaya and the yoga.
Another in which only the last two determinant causes work, that is, the kasāya and the yoga.
Another in which only the yoga works.
Then there is the 14th gunasthāna by itself. It lasts only for a few moments. There is neither the mithyātva, the avirati, the kaşaya, nor the yoga working.
So that to work out the karmas, you hegin with the mithyātva and remove it first.
It is important to remember always that these 14 stages, now about to be described, are in their logical order ad not in chronological order. In the morning, you mu a low stage and in the afternoon in a higher one, th:
you RELI-10
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