Spiritual Awakening and other Essays

SR No.: 006930
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 224
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

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Mithyācāritra (perverted conduct)54. Kundakunda (1st cent A.D.) records departure from this terminology when he says: Mysticism consists in realising the Paramātman (transcendental self), through the Antaratman (internal self) after renouncing the Bahiratman (external self)". Thus we may say that the Paramatman is the true goal of the mystic quest. The whole mystic journey may be put as follows: 1. Awakening of the self, 2. Purgation, 3. Illumination, 4. Darkperiod of the soul, and 5. Transcendental life. The Jaina tradition deals with the mystic journey under the fourteen stages of spiritual evolution, technically known as Guṇasthānas. However, these stages may be subsumed under the above heads in the following way."
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1. Dark-period of the self prior to its awakening: Mithyātva Guṇasthāna (First)
In this Guṇasthāna the empirical souls remain in a perpetual state of spiritual ignorance. The soul staying in this Guṇasthāna identifies itself with bodily colour, physical frame, sex, cast, creed, family, friends and wealth. The consequence is that it is constantly obsessed with the fear of self-annihilation on the annihilation of the body and the like and is tormented even by the thought of death.
2. Awakening of the self-Aviratasamyagdṛṣṭi Guṇasthāna (Fourth)
Fall from awakening:
(a) Sāsādana Guṇasthāna (Second)
(b) Miśra Guṇasthāna (Third)
The soul in this Guṇasthāna considers his own self as his genuine abode regarding the outward physical dwelling places as artificial. He renounces all identification with the
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Spiritual Awakening (Samyagdarśana) and Other Essays