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APPENDIX III
THE FOURTEEN GUNASTHĀNAS The 14 guṇasthānas are steps on the road to emancipation, and are one of the most important and most complicated points in Jain metaphysics. However, they are mentioned very briefly in the āgamas and early commentaries, and it is necessary to look for their exposition in later works, such as the Karma Granthas, Pravacanasāroddhāra, Lokaprakāśa, and Guņasthānakramāroha. This last, though highly esteemed by the Jains, must be used with exceeding care, as it is not always clear and consistent in its method of expression.
Appendix II and the Tables should be used in connection with the account given below.
I. Mithyātvagupasthāna.
Mithyātva is divided into vyakta and avyakta. In the avyakta-stage, a jiva has complete delusion and can make no distinction at all between dharma and nondharma, between a god and non-god, and between a guru and non-guru. In the vyakta-stage, he knows there is a difference, but mistakes a non-deva for a deva, etc. It is only vyaktamithyâtva that constitutes a guṇasthāna.
Mithyātva is also divided according to duration:
I. Anādyanta, without beginning and without end. Abhavyas have this kind.
2. Anādisānta, without beginning and with end. A bhavya who has not yet attained samyaktva has this.
3. Sādisānta, with beginning and with end. This belongs to a bhavya who has attained samyaktva, but has fallen back (Lp. 3. 1288–90). For the guṇasthāna only the two divisions for bhavyas are involved.
This guṇasthāna includes all 14 classes of jivas. For à jīva that has not yet attained samyaktva, no fixed
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