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Aspects of Jainology : Volume VI
of four passions and spiritual inertia and climbs the
9. The ninth stage is named as anivịttikarana, seventh ladder.
because the process of anivịttikarana operates in this 7. The seventh stage is the stage of self- stage. It is also known as bādara-sampardya gunacontrol and self awareness alongwith freedom from sthāna, because in this stage there is occasional possispiritual inertia, which is technically known as bility of the soul being effected by gross passions apramatta-samyata-gunasthāna. At this stage the self (bādara-samparāya ), although it has a power of conhas full control over his passions and observes the trol over them. At this stage, out of nine sub-passions, moral code without any negligence. This stage can be three types of sexual instinct subside and only six
d by overcoming the nine types of pramādas or instincts and subtle greed remain, but due to the unawareness and the three sets of four types of presence of sub-passions and subtle greed, a fear of passions. From this stage there are two ways open for attack by gross passions remain. At the end of this the upward spiritual journey of the soul. They are stage struggle for spiritual progress comes to an end technically known as upaśama-śreni and ksapaka- and the soul climbs the tenth ladder. śreņi. Upaśama-śreņi is the path of suppression or 10. This stage is named as sūksmasamparāyasubsidence while the Kasapaka-śreni is the path of guṇasthāna, because at this stage only the subtle form annihilation. The person, who climbs the ladder of of greed remains. This greed can be interpreted as the spiritual progress by suppressing his passions, is subconscious attachment of the soul with the body. bound to fall from spiritual heights but the person When this subtle attachment alongwith remaining who climbs up the ladder of spiritual heights through sub-passions is subsided or annihilated, the soul the annihilation of his passions ultimately attains ascends to the next stage. The soul, who has made his nirvāna or emancipation.
spiritual progress through the ladder of subsidence 8. The eighth stage of spiritual development
(upaśama-śreni) ascends to the eleventh gunasthāna is called apürvakarana. In this stage self attains a
and the soul, which take up the ladder of annihilation
and special purification and spiritual strength, and thus (kşapaka-śreņi ), climbs directly to the twelfth stage. becomes capable of reducing the duration and the 11. This stage is known as upaśāntamohaniyaintensity of the previously bonded karmas. At this gunasthana; because in this stage deluding karma stage soul performs the four processes of the karma - remains in the subsided form. It is the highest stage sthitighāta ( destruction of the duration of karmas ), for those who ascend through the ladder of subsirasaghāta ( destruction of the intensity of karmas ), dence or suppression. But ultimately the suppressed guna-sarikramana transformation of the quality of passions arise and disturb the tranquility of mind. The karmic matter ) and apūrva-sthitibandha ( bondage soul invariably descends from this stage either to the of an unprecedented kind of duration ). This total sixth, fifth or fourth or even first stage. This is process is technically known as apūrva-karana. In noteworthy that Jainism does not advocate the this stage the soul for the first time experiences the process of suppression of the passions for the spiritual spiritual bliss and tranquility and emotional disturb- progress. This view of Jainism is further supported by ances do not effect it much. At this stage the three sets the modern psychologists such as Freud etc. of four passions alongwith anger and pride of the
12. The twelfth stage in the spiritual developfourth set disappear, only subtle deceit and greed ment of the soul is called kşiņamoha-gunasthāna. In alongwith nine sub-passions (instincts ) remain. this stage deluding karma, which is the main obstruc
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