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Chapter 7
The path on earth comes to an end and becomes a non-path
During the constellation uttaraphalguni Mahāvira attained the state of omniscience [and] of the highest form of vision, infinite, supreme, direct, unveiled, all-embracing, total; during the constellation svāti he attained the plenitude of nirvāṇa.1
The first two stages of śukla-dhyāna lead on to kevala-jñāna, mokṣa and nirvana. So soon as a being enjoys perfect knowledge, there is no possibility open to him of a return back, he is confirmed on the path leading to Liberation with absolute certitude. When this final stage of perfection is reached, is there anything more to be said or any further efforts to be made? No, there is no further effort to be made, one is already on another plane. What remains still to be defined, however, is the nature of kevala-jñāna - as far as it is possible to express that of which one has no experience, but of which one can have some presentiment in accordance with the guidance of the Scriptures.
The long, arid road followed up to this point now comes to an end. The state characterised by the load of glutinous matter adhering to it,
1 .hatthuttarähim aṇamte anuttare nivväghãe nirävarane kasine padipunne kevalavaranāṇadamsane samuppanne saiņā parinivvue bhayavam. KS 1; uttaraphalguni: name of the constellation with which the moon is in conjunction during the latter fortnight of vaisakha (April-May), when the moon is waxing (KS 120); sväti: the constellation with which the moon enters into conjunction during the 15th night of the dark fortnight of kärttika (Oct.-Nov.), when the moon is waning (KS 123). Here kevala-jñāna-kevaladarśana are named and described as one entity. The plenitude of nirvāṇa: parinirvāņa.
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