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Fourteen
Stages of Spiritual Progress |
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Gunasthana |
Behavioral
and Psychological Characteristics at that Stage. |
Level |
|
1 |
Mithyatva |
Lowest stage, ignorance,
delusion, negative attitude towards reality |
Ignorance |
|
2 |
Sasadana |
Indifference to reality,
vague memory of spiritual insight |
Confused |
|
3 |
Misra |
Fleeting moments of
curiosity towards reality |
Mixed |
|
4 |
Avirati |
Awareness of reality
positive attitude and trust in it combined with willingness to practice
self-discipline (Progressive Samyak Darshan) |
Awakening |
|
5 |
Desa-virati |
Introductory vows, 11 step climb
of pratima ladder begins |
Lay vows |
|
6 |
Pramatta or Sarva-virati |
Ascetic vows, firm
resolve to control passions; may fail due to lack of full control over
passions or due to carelessness (pramatta) (Progressive Samyak Charitra) |
Starting ascetic life |
|
7 |
Apramatta Virati |
Intense practice of vows
has increased self-control and virtually replaced carelessness with spiritual
vigilance and vigor (aprammatta);
passions are under
greater but not total control. |
Determined effort for self-control |
|
8 |
Apurva-karana |
Near total self-control
over actions, higher control over mind, thought and passions ready for
suppression or annihilation of the conduct-deluding karma. |
Self-discipline |
|
9 |
Anivritti-karana |
Intense spiritual
activity, higher control over passions suppression, and elimination of
conduct-deluding karma begins. |
Increased self-discipline |
|
10 |
Suksma-samparaya |
Almost complete
elimination of all passions except for subtle degree of attachment conduct-deluding karma virtually eliminated. (i.e. almost total Samyak
Charitra) |
|
|
11 |
Upasanta-moha |
Suppressed passions and
lingering conduct-deluding karma
may rise to drag the ascetic to lower stages; fleeting experience of
equanimity. |
|
|
12 |
Kshina-moha |
This is the point of no
return. All passions as well as conduct-deluding
karma are eliminated. Permanent internal peace achieved.
No new bondage |
|
|
13 |
Sayoga-kevalin |
All Ghatiya karma eliminated. Omniscience achieved, Arhat stage
reached. Perfected soul trapped in the physical body. (Total Samyak Jnana achieved). |
Arhat |
|
14 |
Ayoga-kevlin |
Liberation! Siddha stage
reached. Purest soul no physical body. |
Moksha |
Reproduced from: Jainism and the New Spirituality;
Prof. Vastupal Parikh, Peace Publications, 2nd edition, 2006
Reproduced from: Jainism and the New Spirituality;
Prof. Vastupal Parikh, Peace Publications, 2nd edition, 2006
Reproduced from: Jainism and the New Spirituality;
Prof. Vastupal Parikh, Peace Publications, 2nd edition, 2006
NAMO ARAHAMTANAM
(I bow and seek
inspiration from those souls who having gained total victory over themselves
and have shown us the path to moksha.)
NAMO SIDDHANAM
(I bow and seek
inspiration from all the perfect, pure and liberated souls.)
NAMO AYARIYANAM
(I bow and seek
inspiration from the heads of the religious orders)
NAMO UVAJJHAYANAM
(I bow and seek
inspiration from the teachers of the scriptures)
NAMO LOE SAVVA SAHUNAM
(I bow and seek
inspiration from all the ascetic monks and nuns in the world)
ESO PANCHA
NAMOKKARO
SAVVA PAVA PANAASANO
MANGALANAM CHA SAVVESIM
PADHAMAM HAVAI MANGALAM
(Salutations to these five types
of great souls will help diminish my inauspicious karma. These salutations are
so auspicious as to bring everyone happiness and peace.)
Reproduced from: Jainism and the New Spirituality;
Prof. Vastupal Parikh, Peace Publications, 2nd edition, 2006
|
|
TIRTHANKARA |
EMBLEM |
|
1. |
Rikhava/Rishabhadev/Adi-natha
Rishabha |
Bull |
|
2. |
Ajita-natha |
Elephant |
|
3. |
Sambhava-natha |
Horse |
|
4. |
Abhinandana-natha |
Ape |
|
5. |
Sumati-natha |
Red Bird /Partridge |
|
6. |
Padmaprabhu |
Red Lotus |
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7. |
Suparsva-natha |
Swastika |
|
8. |
Chandraprabhu |
Crescent Moon |
|
9. |
Suvidihi-natha/Pushpadanta |
Crocodile |
|
10. |
Sitala-natha |
Shrivatsa/Kalpa-vruksha
( |
|
11. |
Sreyamsa-natha |
Rhinoceros |
|
12. |
Vasupujya-swami |
|
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13. |
Vimala-natha |
Boar |
|
14. |
Ananta-natha |
Hawk/Eagle |
|
15. |
Dharma-natha |
Thunderbolt |
|
16. |
Shanti-natha |
Deer |
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17. |
Kunthu-natha |
Goat |
|
18. |
Aranatha |
Stylized Swastika/Fish |
|
19. |
Malli-natha |
Water Jar |
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20. |
Munisuvrata-swami |
Tortoise |
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21. |
Nami-natha |
Blue Lotus |
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22. |
Aristanemi-swami/Nemi-natha |
Conch Shell |
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23. |
Parsava-natha |
Cobra |
|
24. |
Mahavira-swami |
Lion |
Reproduced from: Jainism and the New Spirituality;
Prof. Vastupal Parikh, Peace Publications, 2nd edition, 2006
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Nine
Operating Principles of the Universe (Navatattva) |
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Principle |
Operation |
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Jiva Exists |
Each soul has been in a polluted state forever. Impure souls are trapped in Samsara. Humans can purify their souls. |
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Ajiva Exists |
Material particles pollute the soul. Time and space enable elements to change
modes. |
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Asrava |
Vibrations created by impure soul attract karmic particles |
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Bandha |
Passion-based activities create bonds between
the soul and the karmic particles. |
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Punya |
Bondage resulting from auspicious activities -
produce good results. |
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Papa |
Bondage resulting from inauspicious activities -
produce bad results. |
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Samvara |
Austerities and self-control enable us to
control or eliminate passions and thus to stop new bondage. |
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Nirjara |
(1) Bonded particles fall off naturally after
fruition. |
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Moksha |
At higher levels of spiritual progress, asrava
becomes negligible and nirjara dominates resulting in total
elimination of karmic particles. |
|
Reproduced from: Jainism and the New Spirituality;
Prof. Vastupal Parikh, Peace Publications, 2nd edition, 2006
Reproduced from: Jainism and the New Spirituality;
Prof. Vastupal Parikh, Peace Publications, 2nd
edition, 2006
Reproduced from: Jainism and the New Spirituality;
Prof. Vastupal Parikh, Peace Publications, 2nd edition, 2006