YJ International Newsletter 2005 Vol 22 No 01

Author(s): Young Jains (UK)
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 9

Progress Through the
Gunasthanaks
By Ashik Shah
and, when all activity ceases and all karma is shed, the glorious state of Moksha is attained.
Before we explore the karmic process more deeply, we might consider the message more intuitively. Any undertaking or venture must have a clear goal and this must be inspired by a clear vision, which then informs the plan, which must then be executed. If our goal is to realise our full potential as spiritual beings, then our vision must have clarity and direction. These are most easily understood from people who have walked this path before and realised its truth for themselves.
...the conquest of mohaniya karma is
key to the soul's progress.'
In terms of karma, the mohaniya (deluding) type of karma plays a central role in the state of delusion, mithyatva. This mohaniya karma has two categories: vision deluding (darshan-mohaniya - 3 subcategories) and conduct deluding (charitra-mohaniya - 25 sub-categories).
It should be clear from this discussion of the gunasthans and the mechanism of bondage, that the conquest of mohaniya karma is key to the soul's progress. No other karma plays anywhere near as important a role. When we consider our religious striving, its efficacy must be measured at the outset by its impact on Mohaniya karma.
The two categories of perception and conductdeluding karma are overcome respectively by insight into our true nature, as provided by a self-realised true guru, and by the cultivation of detachment, as we overcome the duality of like and dislike and the passions.
So, to boil it down to essentials, the genuine seeker should focus her or his energies on mohaniya karma and strive for self-realisation under the guidance of one who is self-realised. Many times we hear that the bliss of Moksha is not possible in this place and time. However, the transformative stage of Samyak Darshan, in which we can experience the ecstasy of self-realisation, is possible here and now in this rare human form.
Yours to squander and yours to take is the golden opportunity for spiritual transformation which this rare human birth has placed in your hands. Good luck in your choice and good luck in your journey of progress!
The Fourteen Steps, Gunasthanaks, to Moksha. Display at
Tasting the Mango 2, 2004.
As the soul progresses from delusion, and realises its true nature, even if momentarily, by experiencing the soul, in the fourth gunasthan (avirati samyak drashti), it suppresses or eliminates seven types of mohaniya karma.
The use of the diacritical system which gives precise spellings for English transliteration of technical terms has not been used. "Tattvartha Sutra verse 8.1
As translated on page 157 of PS Jaini's The Jaina Path of Purification. i Chapter Five of Jaini.
Samyak Darshan, Gnan, Charitrani Moksha Margaha. Tattvartha Sutra 1.1 Shrimad Rajchandra's Atma Siddhi verses 102-103.
As the soul purifies itself, through the purification of its perception and of its conduct, it increasingly overcomes the other sub-categories of deluding karma as described in the table. Eventually, as all the kashays are finally eliminated, Keval Gnan is attained,
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