Spiritual development stages 

Nature of the real happiness. 

 

469.   Every mundane soul wishes for happiness and tries to obtain happiness, but cannot achieve it. Why is this so?  

Since the mundane soul has not known the real nature of happiness, it has no way of knowing how to obtain true happiness. 

470.      What is the real nature of true happiness?  

The soul has an affirmative attribute (Anujivi guna) called happiness. The pure state of this attribute is called real happiness. This is the true nature of the soul. The mundane soul, transiently and briefly perceives happiness, as a result of the fruition with the pleasure producing karma.  As a result, he wrongly believes that to be the state of real happiness.

 

471.     Why does the mundane soul not achieve real happiness?  

 Since the mundane soul has the wrong belief, the wrong knowledge, and, the wrong conduct, it cannot achieve real happiness.

 

472.     Does the mundane soul ever achieve real everlasting happiness?  

Yes, the mundane soul obtains nirvana (Moksha), and then he also attains the real everlasting happiness.

 

473.    What is the true nature of the moksha?  

When the soul is free from all the material karma (Dravya karma) as well as all internal thought process (Bhav karma), then this state is called moksha.

 

474.     What is the process of obtaining moksha?  

Stopping and shedding (Samvar and nirjara) of all the material karma and internal thought process (Dravya and bhav karma) is called the moksha.

 

475.     How is the stoppage of karma (Samvar) explained? 

The stoppage of the inflow of the karma is called samvar. The soul here stops making any emotions (Vikar) and as a result, the attractions to the soul for new karma cease. This is called samvar.

 

476.     How is the shedding of karma (Nirjara) explained? 

When the soul decreases the intensity of his emotions and, at the same time, there occurs a detachment of the previously bonded karma from the soul, then it is called the shedding (Nirjara).

 

477.     What is the process of stoppage and shedding of karma?  

Through the oneness of true faith, true knowledge and true conduct, the process of obtaining stoppage and shedding (Samvar and nirjara) of karma is achieved.

 

478.     The oneness of the above process, does it occur at one time or in succession?  

            It occurs in succession (Anukram).

 

479.      What is the process of acquiring oneness of the above three jewels?  

As the spiritual development stage (Guna sthanak) increases, so does the increase in the purity of the soul. Ultimately, the three jewels turn into oneness at the height of the purity.

 

General nature of the spiritual development stages.

 

480.     How are the spiritual development stages (Guna sthanak) distingueshed? 

Depending on the intensity of the delusion (Moha) and activity (Yog), the soul’s attributes of true faith, true knowledge and true conduct are in different forms. These represent the spiritual development stages of the soul.

 

481.      How many types of spiritual development stages are there?  

            There are fourteen stages as follow:

1.      Wrong belief – Mithyatva.

2.      Downfall stage – Sasadan.

3.      Right/wrong belief – Mishra.

4.      Right belief with vow-less conduct – Avirat samyag drasti.

5.      Right belief with partial vow-less conduct – Desh virat.

6.      Right belief with complete vow conduct and with minimal carelessness – Pramat virat.

7.      Right belief with complete vow conduct and complete carefulness – Apramat virat.

8.      Stage of new thought activity – Apurva karan.

9.      Stage of advanced thought activity – Anivruti karan.

10.  Stage of subtle greed – Sukshma samparay.

11.  Suppressed delusion state – Upsant moha.

12.  Delusion-less state – Kshin moha.

13.  Active omniscient -- Sayogi kevali.

14.  Inactive omniscient – Ayogi kevali.

 

 

482.      What is the logic in giving names to the spiritual development stages?  

The delusion and the vibratory activity (Moha and Yog) of the soul are the logic for giving names to these spiritual development stages. As the delusion and the vibratory activity of the soul decreases, the purity of the soul increases.

 

483.     What are the instrumental causes in each of the fourteen spiritual developmental stages? 

Right belief deluding karma are the instrumental cause for the first four spiritual development stages. From the fifth to the twelfth spiritual development stages, the instrumental cause are the right conduct deluding karma and the instrumental cause for the thirteenth and fourteenth stages are the vibratory activity of the soul - psychophysical activity (Yog). These are visualized in the following tables.

 

 

 

 

  

Different attitudes (Bhav) of the soul in relationship to spiritual development stage:

 

 

The knowledge attributes of the soul continue producing the modes of knowledge from time infinite; but these modes receive different names due to their association with the deluding karma.

  

SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT STAGE	KNOWLEDGE MODE	DELUDING KARMA
1st – 3rd	Wrong knowledge.	Rise of the wrong belief deluding karma.
4th	True knowledge.	Absence of the effect of the wrong belief deluding karma
5th to 12th	True knowledge	The gradual reduction in the effect of the true conduct deluding karma.
13th	Omniscient knowledge.	Total annihilation of all the deluding karma.

 

             First spiritual development stage. 

484.    What is the nature of the first spiritual development stage – the stage of wrong belief?  (Mithyatva)  

In the first spiritual development stage, the fruition of the wrong belief karma is the   instrumental cause. As a result, the soul has the wrong belief in reality (Atatvarth shradhdhan). 

In this stage, the soul always has a wrong belief. He does not have a liking for the true nature of the reality. As the person with a stomach ailment does not like the taste of rich food, so is the condition of the soul similar in this stage for reality.

 

485.    In the first spiritual development stage, how many types of karma bondageoccur?  

Out of 148 types of karma there is bondage of 117 types in this first spiritual development stage, as follow:

As explained in part two of question #330, instead of twenty subtypes of touch, taste, smell and color, we take only four. Five bodies (Sharir) also include five types of bondages of the parts of the body (Bandahana karma) and five types of integration of the body (Sanghat karma). Thus 148 – 16 (20-4)-10 equal 122 types. The clouded right faith and the right / wrong faith are not in bondage form but are produced due to the rise of the right faith. Here at this time, the wrong faith is divided into three parts such as wrong faith, right-wrong faith and clouded right faith.

The bonded wrong faith karma have some pure and some impure molecules. When the wrong faith karma is divided into three forms (the wrong, right / wrong and the clouded right faith) by the soul, at the time of the rise of the right faith, then these three forms occur. Therefore in bondage, one has only wrong faith karma. There is no bondage of right / wrong and clouded right faith karma.

Thus we have to delete two numbers out of 122, to reach 120.

Out of these 120 types, in the first spiritual development stage, the tirthankar karma, the assimilated body (Aharak sharir) and assimilating limbs and their related parts (Aharak angopanga) are not bonded. Therefore 120 – 3 equal 117 types of bonded karma seen in the first spiritual development stage.

 

486.   How many types of karma come in to fruition in the first spiritual development stage?  

Out of the 122 types as mentioned above, the clouded right faith, the right / wrong faith, the assimilated body, the assimilated limbs and their related parts and the tirthankar karma, do not have fruition in the first spiritual development stage. Thus 122 – 5 equals 117 types of karma, which may get fruition in the first spiritual development stage.

 

487.     How many types of karma remain in a dormancy stage of existence (Satta), with the soul in the first spiritual developmental stage?  

During the first spiritual development stage, there are 148 types of karma, which remain in the dormancy state to the soul.

 

Second spiritual development stage. 

488.   How is the second spiritual developmental stage – the downfall stage   (Sasadan guna sthanak) explained? 

The first type of right faith due to the suppression of karma (Prathamopsham samyaktva) lasts for an intra-indian hour (a period up to or within 48 minutes). When a time between one and six avali (very small unit of time) remains, then there is a rise of infinitely bonded passions (Anantanubandhi kashay). Here the right faith disappears and the soul’s downfall towards ithe first spiritual development stage continues. This is called the second spiritual development stage.  

489.     How is the first type of right faith due to the suppression of karma  (Prathamopsham samyaktva) explained?  

There are seven types of karma related to the right faith. Three are the right faith deluding karma and four are the infinite bonded passions karma.

The right faith occurs due to the supression (Upsham), partial suppression / partial annihilation (Kshayopsham) or annihilation (Kshay) of these seven karma. The right faith due to the suppression of these seven types of karma is of two types.

The first type of right faith with the suppression of karma (Prathamopsham samyaktva).

The second type of right faith with the suppression of karma (Dwitiyopshasm samyaktva.)

The suppression of the seven types of karma of the eternal misbeliever (Anadi mithyatvi) and five types of karma suppression of the non-eternal misbeliever (Sadi mithyatvi) are called the first type of right faith due to their suppression of the karma (Prathamopsham samyaktva).

 

490.   What is identified as the second type of right faith with suppression of karma (Dwitiyopsham samyaktva).  

During the seventh spiritual developmental stage, the soul can have right faith due to partial suppression /annihilation of karma. (Kshayopshamic samyagdristi) This soul is now faces the climb through suppression ladder of further spiritual growth (Upsham shreni). The right faith of suppression type (Upsham samyaktva) evolves from partial suppression / annihilation type of right faith. (Kshayopsham samyaktva) This is identified as the second type of right faith, due to suppression of karma (Dwitiyopsham samyaktva). Here the suppression of only three types of right faith deluding karma occurs. The infinitely bonded karma continue being transformed into partial vows preventing passions karma. 

 

491.     What is called an avli?

 Innumerable samayas make one avli.

 

492.     In the second spiritual development stage, how many types of karma bondage occur? 

In the first spiritual developmental stage, bondage of 117 types of karma occured. In the second spiritual developmental stage, there are sixteen lessTherefore there is bondage of 101 types of karma occuring in the second spiritual developmental stage.

At the end of 1^st first spiritual developmental stage, sixteen types of karma are completely destroyed, so that they are not present in the second spiritual developmental stage. They are as follow:

1.                  The wrong belief karma – Mitayatva.

2.                  Deformed body – Hundak sansthan.

3.                  Hermaphroditic inclination – Napushak ved.

4.                  Infernal realm of existence – Narak gati.

5.                  Infernal realm migratory form – Narak anupurvi.

6.                  Infernal life determining karma – Narak ayu.

7.                  Loosely jointed body karma – Asampraptyrasupatika sanhanan.

8.                  Once sensed lives – Ekendriya gati.

9, 10 & 11. Three mobile lives from 2^nd, 3^rd and fourth sensed living beings - Vikaltraya. 

                        12.         Immobile lives – Sthavar.

                        13.         Hot body karma – Atap.

                        14.         Subtle body – Sukshma.

                        15          Undevelopable body – Aparyapta.

                        16          Common bodies – Sadharan sharir.

 

 

493.      What is meant by karma being completely destroyed (Vyuchchhatti)?

The bondage, fruition and dormancy of the karma are described in each spiritual developmental stage. Prior to the next spiritual developmental stage, those types, which were completely destroyed, are called vyuchchatti.

 

494.   In the second spiritual developmental stage, how many types of karma come into fruition?  

In the first spiritual development stage, 117 types of karma came into fruition. In the second spiritual development stage, the wrong belief, hot body, subtle body, undevelopable body and common bodies, these five types of karma do not come into fruition. So, 117-5 equals 112. One more type identified as the infernal realm migratory form is also not there. Thus, 112-1 equals 111 types of karma fruition that can be there.

495.   Within the second spiritual developmental stage, how many karma are in a dormancy stage (Satta)?

There are 145 types in the dormancy stage excluding the tirthankar, assimilative body and assimilative limbs and their related parts. Thus, 148 – 3 equals 145 types are present in dormancy.  

Third spiritual development stage.

 

496.     What is called the third spiritual developmental stage (Mishra guna sthanak)?

In this stage, there is the rise of right / wrong belief karma. Here the soul has neither only right faith nor wrong faith. There is a mixture of both faiths present.

 

497.    How many types of karma bondage are there in the third spiritual developmental stage?  

There is total 74 types being bondaded in this stage.

Recalling that the second spiritual developmental stage, there were 101 types of bondage and that in the second spiritual developmental stage, 25 were destroyed, which left 101 – 25 or 76 types. The twenty-five types which were destroyed are as follow:

1 -– 4.    Four types of intense passions like anger, ego, deceit and greed.

5.         Somnabulistic sleep (Styangrudhdhi).

6.         Deep sleep producing karma (Nindra nindra).

7.         Exceedingly intense sleep producing karma (Prachala prachala).

8.         Displeasing personality (Durbhag).

9.         Harsh voice (Duswar).

10.       Non-impressive (Anadeya).

11.       Awkward movement (Aprasastha vihayogati).

12.       Female disposition (Stri ved).

13.       Lower status (Nich gotra).

14.       Subhuman realm (Tiryanch gati).

15.       Migratory form subhuman realm (Tiryanch anupurvi).

16.       Subhuman life determining karma (Tiryanch ayu).

17.       Cold body (Udyot).

            18 – 21.  Four types of figure of body (Sansthan).

Symmetrical upper and asymmetrical lower body. (Nyagrodh sansthan)

      Symmetrical lower and asymmetrical upper body. (Svati sansthan)

     Hunchback body. (Kubbaj sansthan)

     Dwarft body. (Vaman sansthan)

            22 – 25.  Four types of bones, and joints formation (Sanhanan).

                      Adementine bones and joints. (Vraja narach sanhanan)

    Unbreakable bones and joints. (Narach sanhanan)

    Semi-unbreakable bones and joints. (Ardha narach sanhanan)

    Rivetted bones and joints. (Kilika sanhanan)  

In the third spiritual developmental stage, there is no bondage of any life determining karma, so substracting human life determining karma and celestial life determining karma, from 76, leaves 74 types of bondage present. Infernal life is gone in the first and the subhuman life karma is gone in the second spiritual developmental stage. 

 

498.     In the third spiritual developmental stage, how many types of karma come in to fruition? 

In the second spiritual developmental stage, 111 types enter in fruition. From these 111, take 9  of these out as follow: four infinitely bonded,to include anger, ego, deceit and greed; one to four sensed lives (total of four), and the immobile body (l), thus 111 – 9 equals 102.

Also take away migratory forms. There are four types, out of these, the infernal realm migratory form, which was already out in the second spiritual development stage. Therefor three of these types of migratory forms need to be subtracted, 102-3 equals 99.

There is one more type of karma in fruition. That is the right / wrong belief karma. Thus 99 + 1 equals 100 types are in fruition in this stage.  

499.   How many types of karma are in dormancy in the third spiritual developmental stage?  

Except for tirthankar body karma, all the karma are in dormancy (148-1 equals 147) in this stage.  

Forth spiritual development stage. 

500.     What is meant by right belief with vow-less conduct (Avirat samyag drasti), which occurs in the fourth spiritual developmental stage?  

The suppression, partial suppression / partial annihilation or annihilation of three types of right faith deluding karma and four types of infinitely bonded passions, give the soul the right faith. In this fourth stage, there is the presence of partial vow conduct passions, which prevent the soul’s being not able to accept the vows.

501.     How many types of karma bondage occur within this fourth spiritual developmental stage?  

In the third spiritual developmental stage, 74 types of karma occurred in bondage. Here one has to add three more types, so that 77 types of bondage are present in fourth spiritual developmental stages.

These three are as follow:

1.      The human life determining karma.

2.      The celestial life determining karma.

3.      The tirthankar body making karma.

 

502.    How many types of karma come into fruition in this fourth spiritual developmental stage?  

In the third stage 100 types of karma reached fruition. In the fourth stage since there is no right/wrong belief karma, 99 achieve fruition.

To these 99, one now has to include five more for a total of 104.

These additional five include:

·         Four transmigratory forms, and

·         One clouded right belief (Samyaktva Mohaniya) form. 

 

503.   How many types of karma remain in a dormancy state in this fourth spiritual      developmental stage?  

All 148 types remain in dormancy in the fourth spiritual developmental stage. However the soul with the right belief, due to the annihilation of karma has only 141 types. The seven excluded types are:

·         Three of right belief deluding karma, and

·         Four of infinitely bonded passions.  

            Fifth spiritual developmental stage. 

504.   What is the nature of the fifth spiritual developmental stage? This stage is identified as the right belief with the partial vow conduct (Desh virat).  

With the inoperation of partial vow preventing passions, the soul is given the opportunity to observe partial vows of the householder. This is called the partial vow conduct (Desh charitra). The right belief and the right knowledge merge within this stage.

 

505.     How many types of karma bondage are there in the fifth spiritual developmental stage?  

Recall that in the fourth spiritual developmental stage 77 types of bondage existed. In the fifth stage, ten less are bonded so that total of sixty-seven are bonded in this stage.

The ten less bonded are as follow:

·         Four partial vow preventing passion of anger, deceit, ego and pride, and, one each of:

·         Human realm of existence. (Manusya gati)

·         Human realm of transmigratory form. (Manusya anupurvi)

·         Human life-determining karma. (Manusya ayu)

·         Gross body. (Audarik sharir)

·         Gross body limbs and their related parts. (Audarik sharir angopang)

·         Adementine nerves, bones and joints. (Vraj rushabha narach sanhanan)

 

 

506.     How many types of karma give fruition in the fifth spiritual developmental stage?

 

In the fourth spiritual developmental stage, there were 104 types of karma in fruition.  Here in the fifth stage there are seventeen less for total of 87 types to yield fruition in the fifth stage.

Seventeen excluded are as follow:

·         Four partial vow preventing passions of anger, ego, deceit and pride. (Apratyakhyanavarniya kashay)

·         Celestial realm of existence. (Dev gati)

·         Celestial realm transmigratory form. (Dev anupurvi)

·         Celestial life-determining karma. (Dev ayu)

·         Infernal realm of existence. (Narak gati)

·         Infernal realm transmigratory form. (Narak anupurvi)

·         Infernal life determining karma. (Narak ayu)

·         Fluid body. (Vaikriya sharir)

·         Fluid body limb and minor limbs. (Vaikriya angopang)

·         Human realm transmigratory form. (Manusya anupurvi)

·         Subhuman realm transmigratory form. (Tiryanch anupurvi)

·         Displeasing personality. (Durbhag)

·         Non-impressive. (Anadeya)

·         Notoriety body making karma. (Apyash kirti)

 

 

507.    How many types of karma are in dormancy in the fifth spiritual developmental stage?

 

In the fourth spiritual developmental stage, there were 148 types in dormancy. Within the   fifth stage, 147 are present in dormancy, with the exeption of infernal life determining karma, which is not present. In the fifth spiritual developmental stage, due to annihilation of the karma, there is dormancy of only 140 types of karma. The seven excluded are as follow:

Four infinite bonded karma and three of the right faith deluding karmas.

 

Sixth spiritual development stage.

 

 

508.   What is the nature of the sixth spiritual developmental stage, which encompasses the right belief with complete vow conduct as well as minimal carelessness (Pramat virat)?

 

In this spiritual developmental stage, there is the intense operation of perfect right conduct preventing passion and the quassi-passions (Sanjvalan kashay and nokashay). Here there is manifestation of restraint (Sanyam), as well as some carelessness due to the operation of the above-mentioned karma. This is the spiritual developmental stage of a monk.

 

509      How many types of karma become bonded in this sixth spiritual developmental stage?

 

In the fifth spiritual developmental stage, the bondage of 67 types of karma occured. There are four less, which mean 63 types of bondage occur.

 

The four in the sixth stage missing include:

Complete vow-preventing passions of anger, ego, deceit and greed.

 

510.     How many types of karma acquire into fruition in the sixth spiritual developmental stage?

 

In the fifth spiritual developmental stage, 87 types came into fruition. Here there are eight less acquired. Therefore 79 acquire fruition; plus two additional types for a total of 81 as follow:

 

·         Four complete vow-preventing passions of anger, ego, deceit and greed. (Pratyakhyanavaran kashay)

·         Subhuman realm of existence. (Tiryanch gati)

·         Subhuman life determining karma. (Tiryanch ayu)

·         Cold body. (Udyot)

·         Lower status determining karma. (Nich gotra)

 

The two types of fruition added are:

 

·         Assimilative body. (Aharak sharir)

·         Assimilative limbs and their related parts. (Aharak angopang)

 

 

511      How many types of karma are in dormancy during the sixth spiritual developmental stage?

 

In the fifth spiritual development stage, there are 147 types in dormancy present. During the sixth stage there is one less. It is the subhuman age determining karma.Therefore there are 146 in dormancy.

In the right faith, due to annihilation of the karma, (kshayic samyag drasti) there are only 139 types in dormancy, (146-7 equals 139).

These seven excluded are:

Four infinite bonded karma and three of the right faith deluding karma.

 

Seventh spiritual developmental stage.

 

512.  What is the nature of the seventh spiritual developmental stage, which endows the right belief with complete vow conduct as well as complete carefulness (Apramat virat)?

 

In the seventh spiritual developmental stage, there is a very mild operation of perfect right conduct preventing passions and quassi-passions. Here there is also manifestation of restraint (Sanyam) with carefulness.

This is the spiritual development stage of a monk.

 

513.     How many subtypes of this seventh developmental stage are there?

 

                  There are two types:

·         To achieve one’s own place at the seventh spiritual developmental stage (Swasthan apramat virat), and

·         To achieve the eminent form of seventh spiritual developmental stage (Satisay apramat virat).

 

514.     How is the seventh spiritual developmental stage with one’s own place   (Swasthan apramat virat) identified?

 

The soul who travels between the sixth and the seventh spiritual developmental stage thousands of times is called the seventh spiritual developmental stage, with one’s own place.

 

515.     What is called the eminent seventh spiritual developmental stage (Satisay apramat   virat)?

 

The soul who is now ready to climb the ladder of further spiritual progress (Shreni) is identified as the eminent seventh spiritual developmental stage.

 

516.    Who is eligible for climbing the ladder of further spiritual growth?

 

The soul with the right faith with annihilation of the karma (Kshayic samyag drasti) and the soul with the second type of right faith with suppression of the karma (Dwitiyopsham samyag drasti) are eligible to climb this ladder.

However the soul with the first type of right faith with suppression of the karma (Prathamopsham samyag drasti) and the soul with the right faith with partial suppression and partial annihilation of karma (Kshayopsamic samyag drasti) are not eligible to climb this ladder of further spiritual growth.

The soul with the first type of right faith suppression of karma passes up that stage and obtains the right faith with partial suppression / annihilation of the karma stage. Here the soul eliminates the infinitely bonded anger, ego, deceit and greed and then suppresses the three types of right faith deluding karma while obtaining a second type of right faith with suppression of karma; or it can destroy all the remaining types of right faith deluding karma and obtain the right faith through the annihilation of the karma status. At this state, the soul qualifies for climbing the ladder of further spiritual growth.

 

517.     What is called the ladder of further spiritual growth (Shreni)?

 

The state where the soul can either annihilate or suppress the remaining twenty-one types of deluding karma is called the ladder of spiritual growth.

 

518.     How many types of ladders are there (Shreni)?