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APPLICATION
THE NOTION OF GROWTH
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14 STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT
- gunasthana -
The Tattvarthasutra describes 14 stages (gunasthanas) human beings experience on their path to liberation. Each of these stages is characterized by the type of karma manifesting therein (i.e. our emotional disposition and the actionpatterns we experience as the result), the time spent in a particular stage, the direction in which we pass through and how much our personal development is stimulated. Because of these differing factors each stage has a unique feeling and significance.
The initial purpose of this classification is to determine our own present stage of development. By knowing its features and mechanisms, we can deal far more effectively with those types of karma (themes of life) that are accessible on our actual level. This prevents us from wasting time and energy on efforts that may succeed only on higher levels.
Far more interesting is the fact that we often experience brief insights into 'higher' stages - irrespective of the level we presently reside in. Though initially the duration of
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