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THE PURIFICATION PRESCRIPTION
Table 8.1. Purification stages and the corresponding practices.
Practices
Purification Stage
1-4
Question: "Who am I?” Answer: "Belief in Axioms 1-3, 4A, 4B, 4C." (Practice Qualities (8) of True-Insight) Layman's eleven renunciation sub-stages (see Fig. 8.1) Restraints (3), Watchfulness (5), Righteousness (10), Reflections (12), Afflictions' Mastery (20). Virtuous meditation. First two pure trances. Last two pure trances.
8-10 12-14
to near perfection. For instance, the diet of the monk is much more restricted than that of the layman.
8.5 THE HIGHER STAGES AND MEDITATION
To move on to higher stages, one uses advanced meditation comprised of 'Virtuous Meditation' and 'Pure Trances'. These are part of the specific austerities under the Ten Righteousnesses, described in $ 8.4. Virtuous Meditation entails deep contemplation for up to 48 minutes on:
(i) the Jain teachings on nine reals, (ii) the means by which to assist others, (iii) karmic decay/ emission, and
(iv) the structure of the universe. (It is believed that on average one can maintain deep concentration for about 48 minutes). During such periods, Carelessness is suppressed and the meditator temporarily attains the seventh stage. As he enters and leaves the contemplation periods, the meditator will be alternating between the sixth and seventh stages.
These contemplations, free from Carelessness, are considered to be preparatory to moksa but do not themselves lead to the defeat of the subtle passions. Only with the attainment of the eighth stage, “Unprecedented Spiritual Progress", can one be sure of reaching the highest step leading in the end to moksa. This can occur only through Pure Trances, of which there are four types:(i) Pure Concentration on nature and multimodal aspects of the
six existents, (ii) Pure Concentration on a unimodal aspect of an existent, (iii) the transcendental state of subtle movement, and
