Gunasthanas

Stages of Spiritual Development

Pravin K. Shah
Jain Study Center of North Carolina
401 Farmstead Drive, Cary NC 27511-5631
E-mail: pkshah1@ibm.net
Website: www.jainism.org

Stages of Spiritual Development

Gunasthanas
There are 14 stages of spiritual development
They are arranged in a logical order, according to the
principle of decreasing sinfulness and the increasing purity
Soul travels from complete dependence upon the Karma
state to the state of complete detachment from it
The order of Gunasthanas is logical and not chronological
Soul removes its Ignorance (Mithyatva) on 4th stage,
Voelessness (Avirati) on 6th stage, Passions (Kashaya) on
12th stage, and Yoga (activities of body, mind and speech)
on 14th stage and attains liberation.

Stages of Spiritual Development

Gunasthanas
1. Mithyatva (False vision or faith)
Delusion or Gross ignorance state
This state is possessed by all souls from the beginning of time
Soul migrates to fourth stage after acquiring right faith

2. Sasadana (Stage of having tasted true belief)

One has a taste of true belief
This states exists only while actually falling down from the
fourth to the first stage
Duration less than 48 minutes

3. Misra (Mixed Stage)

Mixed or partially rational belief.
Also the condition of mind while actually falling down from the
fourth to the first stage
After the first fall, condition of mind going up from first to the
fourth stage
Duration less than 48 minutes

Stages of Spiritual Development

Gunasthanas
4. Avirata_samyagadristi (Vowless Right Vision)
Right Faith but lack of self control or conduct
Soul migrates here from first stage
Preparatory stage for ascetic life
It is a gateway to liberation
Downfall occurs if Mithyatva was suppressed

5. Desavirata_samyagadristi (Partial Renunciation)

Practicing partial vows of Right Conduct
Conquered over intense passions (Apratyakhan_kashay)
Highest stage for laypeople

Stages of Spiritual Development

Gunasthanas
6. Pramatta_virata (Full Renunciation with some laziness)
First stage of ascetic life (homelessness)
Observes five great vows though tinged with laziness
(pramada)
The formation of the aharaka Sharira
7. Apramatta_virata (Renunciation with full awareness)
Observes vows without negligence (pramada)
Passions are reduced to minimum in intensity, quality,
number and form
Partial realization of natural joy or bliss (svabhavik ananda)

Stages of Spiritual Development

Gunasthanas
8. Apurva_karana or Nivratti_badara_samparaya
(Meditative state)
Pureness of soul increasing
Remains in meditative state
Passions are still present

9. Anivritti_karana or Anivratti_badara_samparaya
(Advance meditative state)
More advanced thought-activity or meditation.

10. Sukshma_samparaya (Almost passionless state)

Only very slight greed left to be controlled

Stages of Spiritual Development

Gunasthanas
11. Upasanta_moha (Quiescence passionless state)
Quiescence of the remaining traces of greed
Fallback occurs due to suppression of passions

12. Kshina_moha (Complete passionless state)

Desirelessness State
Complete eradication of greed
Omniscience is not possesses
No fallback can occur (removal of passions)

Stages of Spiritual Development

Gunasthanas
13. Sayogy_kevalin (Active Omniscience State)
Omniscience state (elimination of four Ghati karma)
Perfection of Right Vision, Knowledge, and Conduct
Liberation in the embodied state
Activity of Body, Mind and Speech exist (Yoga)
Tirthankara establishes religious order

14. Ayogy_kevalin (Passive Omniscience State)

Cessation of the activity of the three yogas
Duration is very short (few seconds)
Next step is Nirvana