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THE SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS OF JAINISM
four secondary karmic components are removed simultaneously at the time of death in the fourteenth stage. It is worthwhile to note that in terms of Figure 5.4, one starts by purifying the outer rectangles, leaving them blank and working towards the centre. When one has removed all the karmic matter, Figure 5.4 is transformed to a single blank expanse with no boundaries, indicating pure soul.
One of the traditional analogies with the spiritual progress is the making of clarified butter (ghee) from milk. Table 8.2 shows the parallel, stage by stage. These stages are approximately identical to the order of the purification stages, as shown in the last column.
Table 8.2
Analogy of purification stages with the stages in the production of clarified butter (ghee).
Ghee Stages
Purification
Stage
Parallel
1. From milk to make ghee
Realize existence of pure soul as Right Faith
2. Heat milk
Do fasting (austerity)
3. Cool milk
Cool mind (initial meditation)
4. Add culture
Add Right Knowledge.
5. Keep still for 6 hours
Take vow of silence (Right Conduct).
6. Churn it to get butter
Advanced meditation.
7. Then put it on the fire
again to produce ghee
Fire= Advanced trances Ghee= Pure soul
8.7 ANALOGY OF THE SPIRITUAL
PROGRESS WITH DRIVING A CAR
The spiritual progress of the individual through the fourteen stages can be illustrated by the process of learning to drive a car and then becoming increasingly skilled (Mardia, 1981). Note that the British test standard does not require perfection and that further improvement should take place after the test is passed. However, in life the individual is a "learner" until moksa is reached.
Stages 1 to 4 are equivalent to gaining a correct understanding of the use of the car--not that it is a vehicle to admire but a useful machine which must be driven in such a way that both oneself and
