Spiritual Discipline and Practices in Jainism

Author(s): Bhagchandra Jain
Publisher: Z_Vijyanandsuri_Swargarohan_Shatabdi_Granth_012023.pdf

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Santisagara's death in August, 1955 can also be cited as the well-known holy death fasting upto last moment.
Thus the householder's stage is the prestage of Jaina ascetic. It is therefore but natural for him to observe the ascetic practices to a certain extent. His daily reoutine starts with reciting the mahamantra in brahmamuhurta thinking "who am I?" "What are my vows"? What is my dharma"? etc. He then meditates, studies the scriptures, worships the Jinas and then takes the meals. Avasyakas and pratikramana are also to be observed by the housedholder.
Spiritual stages (Gunasthanas)
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This is the third type of division of spiritual stages called Gunasthanas in the Jaina scriptures. It is fourteen in number stating the nature of the self in possession of the Ratnatraya (right vision, right knowledge and right conduct) on the path of purification as follows:
1. Mithyadrsti (This is the lowest one which involves gross ignorance where the self accepts wrong belief as a right and therefore the person cannot make a distinction between reality and unreality. It is of five types, viz. 1) ekantamithyatva (absolute attitude, for example, there is no existence of soul), 2. ajnana mithyatva (which does not believe in existence of svarga, naraka etc., 3. viparita mithyatva (salvation can be attained by wrong views), 4. samsaya mithyatva (attitude of uncertainty about the right faith), and 5. vinaya mithyatva (all gods, gurus and agamas are true). As soon as one gets rid of mithyatva, he reaches the fourth gunasthana and from there comes down to the first one.
2. Sasadana samyagdrsti in which the soul, though in transitory stage has a taste of right knowledge. But due to pungency of anantanubandhi kasayas, his downfall is bound to happen from the stage of samyagdrati. Here he stays upto six avalis and then reaches to the first gunasthana. 105
3.
Samyagmithyadrsti or misra gunasthana indicates the mixed state of right and wrong belief. Its duration is antarmuhurta. He attains the fourth gunasthana if he becomes samyagdrati, otherwise slips to the first gunasthana. 10
4. It is Asamyata samyagdrsti where the soul achieves right vision but cannot perform the conduct. At the attainment of samyagdarsana, one makes upasama, ksaya and ksayopasama of the three prakrtis
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