Chapter-56 - Gunasthan (Stage of spiritual development)

1. What is 'Gunasthana'?

Ups and down in the feelings, i.e. transformation of soul at every instant due to delusion and vibration in soul-points, is called Gunasthana. (Jeev Kand, 3)

2. How many Gunasthanas are there?

Although the feeling of Jeeva are infinite but all of them have been divided/grouped in fourteen classes, hence Gunasthanas are 14 -

1. 'Mithyatva' (false-belief)
2. 'Sasadan' (falling from Upsama Samayaga Darshana)
3. 'Misra' or 'Samyagmithyatva' (mixed right and wrong belief)
4.  'Avirat Samyaktva' (Right perception without vows)
5. 'DeshaVirat' or 'Samyamasamyama' (stage of restraint with partial vows)
6. 'Pramattavirata' (Perfect vows (great vows) with some carelessness)
7. 'Apramattavirata' (Perfect great vows)
8. 'Apurvakaran' (Advance stage of spiritual development, i.e. acquisition of first 'Shukla Dhyana' i.e. unprecedented thought activity)
9. 'Anivirtikaran' (Stage of spiritual warfare with weapon of Shukla Dhyana for conquering gross desires and similarity of volitions among vow-observers existed at one particular time)
10. 'Sukshma Sampraya' (Restraint with minute passions ,i.e.,stage of slight greed passion)
11. 'Upshant Moha' (suppressed delusion, i.e. the saints with quiescent passions)
12. 'Kshin Moha' (Delusionless stage of spiritual development)
13. 'Sayoga Kevali' (An Omniscient possessing physical presence)
14. 'Ayoga Kevali' (Omniscient free from all karmic vibrations)

3. What is Mithyatva Gunasthan ?

Lack of faith in the feelings related to reality due to rise of Karmic-nature of wrong faith, is called Mithyatva Gunasthan (J.K., 15) and the Jeeva associated with these feelings are called false-believers. They are of two kinds - (A) Svasthan Mithyadrishti (False-believer in himself who may or may not attain right belief).

(B) Satishaya Mithyadrishti (Wrong believers who are going to attain right belief) - The Jeeva who is mingling indistinguishably in false belief, is called Svathana Mithyhyadrishti and the Jeeva who is just to attain the right belief and whose feelings are becoming in the form of Adhahkaran (lowtended activity), Aporvakaran (unprecedented thought activity) and Anivrattikaran. These three comprise the ladder (Shreni) in which the aspirant may either suppress or destroy subsiding passions), is called Satishaya Mithyadrishti.

4. What is Sasadan Gunasthana ?

1. The feelings /thought activities between falling/deviating from suppressed right belief due to rise of any one of the infinite binding passions and non-rise of the nature / configuration of wrong belief during first or second suppressed right belief when minimum one instant and maximum six Avali time is left over those transformation/thought activities (Parinam),are called Sasadan Gunasthan.
2. As long as the Jeeva does not come in the Mithyatva Gunasthan falling from suppressed right belief (Upsama Samyaktva) till then he is called Sasadan Samyagdrishti. The minimum duration of this Gunasthan is one instant and that of maximum is 6 Avali.

Note - Only right believer who has suppressed Karmas contrary to the right faith ,(i.e. Upsama Samayagdrishti) alone come in this category.

5. What is Samyaga mithyatva or Misra (mixed) Gunasthan ?

1. In which Gunasthan the right and wrong i.e. mixed faith is found, is called Samayaga Mithyatva or Misra Gunasthan. (Shri Dhavla book, 1/11/167)
2. The mixed disposition with right and wrong faith like mixed taste of pulse and rice, is called Samyaga Mithyatva.
3. Not abandoning, the previous cherissed Deity also regard Arihanta Deva as Deity is a man of mixed Gunasthana. (Dhavla Pustika 1/168)

Specific mention -

1. The Marnantika Samudghata (the emanation of soul-points to the next birth state just before the death) does not happen in the Samyaga Mithyatva Gunasthan.
2. The death does not occur in Samyaga Mithyatva Gunasthan.
3. The age bond also does not take place in the right-cum-wrong faith Gunasthan.
4. The duration of Samyaga Mithyatva Gunasthan is Antarmuhurta.
5. The being of Samyaga Mithyatva Gunasthan can not assume restraint.

6. What is Avirata Samyagdristi Gunasthana ?

Well, where the right faith has manifested but accepted no vow (vow related to restraintful and non-restraintful violence or full / perfect restraint), is called Avirat Samyagdrishti Gunasthan. (D. P. 1/172)

7. What is partial vow or restraintful-non-restraintful vow ?

The holder of this Gunasthan remains both restraintful and non-restraintful, precisely at one and the same time. That Shravaka is restraintful because he has abandoned violence of mobile beings but not of immobile beings, hence in this respect he is non-restraintful, that is why it is called Deshavirat or Samyama - Samyama Gunasthan.(D. P. 1/174-175)

8. What is Pramatta virata Gunasthan ?

Where perfect / full restraint has manifested but due to intense rise of Samjvalana passion (A passion which disturbs perfect conduct), there is some carelessness, is called Pramatta virata Gunasthan. (Shri Dhavla, 1/176). The intense rise of all the four Samjvalana passions and rise of nine subsidiary passions (Nav No-Kasaya) the group of these 13 Karmic natures is named as Pramad. (Dhavla book, 7/71)

9. What is Apramatta virata Gunasthan ?

Where the carelessness (Pramad), disappeared due to mild rise of Samjvalana passion, that thought activity, is called Apramatta virata Gunasthan. (Shri Dhavla, 1/179).

10. How many kinds are there of Apramatta virata Gunasthana ?

Apramatta virata Gunasthana is of two kinds - Swasthan Apramatta virata (Instable state of meditation) & Satishaya Apramatta virata (Advance state of spiritual development). Those who oscillate between sixth and seventh Gunasthana, are called Swasthan Apramatta virata. Who being near the Upsama or Kshapaka (suppression or destruction of Karmic natures) are engaged in thought activity / feeling in form of Adha Pravratta Karan (low tended activity), is called Satishaya Apramatta virata.

11. What is Adha Pravratta Karan ?

Where thought activities / feelings of contemporary Jeevas and of those belonging to different time-period remain both identical / similar and dissimilar are called Adha Pravratta Karan. With regard to these Adha Pravratta Karan thought activities the Apramatta Virata Gunasthan is also named as Adha Karan. (J.S.K., 2/7)

12. What is Apoorva Karan ?

The thought activities / feelings of contemporaryJeevas remain both similar and dissimilar but of those belonging to different time their thought activities also remain precisely different. Here Muniraj assume such unprecedented thought activities which were not possessed earlier, that is why this Gunasthan is named as Apoorva Karan Gunasthan ,i.e. unprecedented degree of purity. (Dhavla book, 7/81)

13. What is Anivratti Karan Gunasthan ?

A certain member of Jeevas living in any instant out of an Antar Muhurta time of Anivratti Karan, are mutually different in respect of shape and size, etc. of the body, but no difference is found in their thought activities, that is called Anivratti Karan Gunasthana. (J. K., 57) The examples of all the above Karnas are as follows -

1. Example of Adhakaran - Five Muniraj started to move on foot from one place to another at 1.00 p.m. but due to difference in their speed of movement they became ahead-behind, one of them went ahead, three were left behind and one left behind even of them, it is the illustration of Adhakaran. Thus there becomes three kinds -

Again five Muniraj started to move on foot at 1.05 p.m. although one of them could not catch that Muni  who started at 1.00 p.m. and was ahead of all but because of his comparatively fast speed managed to come parallel to those three Muniraj who were in the mid way and three came parallel to that Muni Maharaj who lagged behind and one is left behind even of them.

Who started at 1.00 p.m. and who started at 1.05 p.m., their similarity is attained (because some Muniraj of both the groups have come parallel to each other), similarly, who attained the Adhakaran before all had less purity and who attained the Adhakaran after that, had more purity, then in that case they may become similar to former or should mingle with them who had more purity, that is called Adhakaran.

2. Illustration of Apoorvakaran - Just as five Muniraj moved on foot at 1.00 p.m. and one of them went ahead, three lagged behind in midway and one left behind even of them ,i.e. a kind of comparability is found in the thought activities of contemporary Jeevas. But those five Muniraj who moved at 1.05 p.m. they also became ahead-behind but how much fast they may move, will not be able to be at parity with those Muniraj who started / moved at 1.00 p.m., i.e. precisely the dissimilarity is found in the thought activities of those belongings to different time period.

3. Illustration of Anivrattikaran - Five Muniraj moved at 1.00 p.m., they all remained together, neither went forward nor fell back and those five Muniraj who moved at 1.05 p.m. they also remained together, neither went forward nor fell back. Hence similarity remains in the thought activities of contemporary Jeevas and precisely the dissimilarity in those belonging to former and later time period.

14. At how many places those three Karans are found ?

1. At the time of attaining first Upsama right faith/belief (the right belief manifested by the suppression of Karmas contrary to right faith for the first time).
2. At the time of attaining second Upsama right faith.
3. At the time of performing transition of infinite binding passion into lower passionate form.
4. At the time of suppressing conduct-deluding Karma.
5. At the time of destroying conduct-deluding Karma.
6. At the time of manifesting irrevocable right-faith (i.e. the pure irrevocable right-belief after destruction of faith-deluding Karma) but before Kshyopsamika Samyaktva (partial annihilation and partial suppression of Karmas opposed to right faith), Kshyopshamika Charitra (partial annihilation and partial destruction of Karmas opposed to right conduct) and Samyamasamyama (partial bow related to restraintful and non restraintful violence) remain only first two Karnas.

15. What is Karana ?

The thought activity by which the intended Upsama, etc. disposition (suppression of Karmas), is generated, that thought activity (transformation), is called Karan (or the thought activity / the auspicious-inauspicious feeling, is Karana). (Shri Dhavla book, 1/181)

16. What is Shukshma Samparaya Gunasthana ?

The Gunasthana in which there is extremely subtle rise of Samjvalana passion of greed, is called Shukshma Samparaya Gunasthana. Shukshma = subtle, Samparaya = passion. (Jeev kand, 59)

17. What is the Upshanta Moha Gunasthana ?

The Gunasthana generated through suppression of the entire deluding Karma, is called Upshanta Moha Gunasthana. (Shri Dhavla book, 1/189)

18. What is the Kshin Moha Gunasthana ?

The pure thought activity of the soul generated through destruction of entire deluding Karma, is called Kshin Moha Gunasthana. (Shri Dhavla book, 1/190)

19. What is the Sayoga Kevali Gunasthana ?

Where infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite bliss and infinite power are manifested due to destruction of four destructive Karmas, are called Kevali, i.e. omniscient and as long as there is vibration in their soul points (caused by mind, speech and body), until then they are called Sayoga Kevali. (Raj Vartika, 9/24)

20. What is the Ayoga Kevali Gunasthana ?

When all the three vibrations (of mind, speech and body), are destroyed and until they are not free from the body, till then they are called Ayoga Kevali. The duration of Ayoga Kevali is merely that time which is consumed in speaking 5 short vowels (अ, इ, उ, ऋ, लृ - a, i, u, r, Ir). The 72 Karmic natures are destroyed in the penultimate instant (i.e. Just before the last time) and 13 in the last instant. (Raj Vartika, 9/1/24)

21. The jeeva of which Gunasthana can go in how many Gunasthanas?

(Karamkand, Gatha, 556-559)

* Rajvartika, 9/1/18

22. What is Upsama Shreni ? How many Gunasthana are there in it and how many times a Jeeva can ascend Upsama Shreni ?

Where the Jeeva suppressing the conduct deluding Karma marches ahead that, is Upsama Shreni. It consists of 8,9,10 & 11 Gunasthan. Only the Jeevas of Upsama Shreni are demoted to lower Gunasthanas and death also occurs of them. Upsama Shreni can be ascended at the most four times but only twice in one birth, if he endeavours fifth attempt, then as a rule, he will precisely ascend the Kshapaka Shreni. (Rajvartika, 9/1/18)

23. What is Kshapaka Shreni ? How many Gunasthanas are there in it and how many times a Jeeva can ascend Kshapaka Shreni ?

Where the Jeeva destroying the conduct deluding Karma marches ahead, is Kshapaka Shreni. It consists of 8,9,10 & 12 Gunasthanas. Death does not occur in this Gunasthana and the Jeeva ascends Kshapaka Shreni .only once and attains the salvation. (Rajvartika, 9/1/18)

24. Who is Anadi Mithyadrishti (ab-aeterno)?

One who has not attained right faith as yet, is called Anadi Mithyadrishti.

25. Who is Saadi Mithyadrishti?

One who has attained right faith once and again came in the wrong faith, is Sadi Mithyadrishti. The Anadi Mithyadrishti goes in the 4th, 5th and 7th Gunasthan from the 1st Gunasthana and the Sadi Mithyadrishti in the 3rd, 4th, 5th & 7th Gunasthan from the 1st Gunasthana.

26. What is the duration of which Gunasthan with regard to one Jeeva ?

(Shri Dhavla book, 4/324-357)

Note : The mid-time between maximum and minimum period is called medium period.

27. Which are those states / Gunasthana in which jeevas do not die ?

Jeevas who are in Samyag Mithyatva Gunasthan, who are in the process of formative development state (Nirvratyaparyapta), Mishrakayayogi of mixed body vibration, (i.e. bodily activities taking place until complete formation of body), while ascending Kshapaka Shreni (related to destruction of conduct deluding Karma), while ascending Upsama Shreni in the first part of Apoorva Karan Gunasthan, in the 13th Gunasthana, in the 2nd, 3rd and fourth Gunasthan of the seventh hell, Jeevas coming in the Mithyatva Gunasthan after attaining the transition of infinite binding passion into lower passionate form do not die till Antar Muhurta and the Kritkritya Vedak Samayagdrishti does not die - The Kritkritya Vedak right believer is that who has destroyed four passions leading to endless mundane existence, Mithyatva, Samyag Mithayatva as well as infinite major portion of Samyaka Prakriti (Karmic nature causing obstacle in right faith) (K.K., 560-561). According to Acharya Shri Yativrashava ji death occurs of the Kritkritya Vedaka Samayagdrishti.

Specific Mention - According to Acharya Yativrashava there is both types of instructions regarding death of Kritkritya Vedaka Samayagdrishti.

28. How many Jeevas are there in which Gunasthana ?

1. There are infinite times infinite Jeevas in the 1st Gunasthana. (Shri Dhavla, Book, 3/2/10)
2. There are innumerableth part of a Palya Jeevas in the 2nd Gunasthana.
3. There are innumerableth part of a Palya Jeevas in the 3rd Gunasthana.
4. There are innumerableth part of a Palya Jeevas in the 4th Gunasthana.
5. There are innumerableth part of a Palya Jeevas in the fifth Gunasthana. (S. Dhavla, B., 3/6/63)

29. How many maximum number of Jeevas could be there in which Gunasthan of the human body-form ?

Specific mention - The total number of human beings is innumerable, it is with regard to spontaneous Jeevas. The number of uterine-born Jeevas measures in 29 digits. There are also 299,300 and 304 Jeevas in each of the Upsama Shreni Gunasthana and just the double in each of the Kshapaka Shreni Gunasthana ,i.e. respectively 598,600 and 608 Jeevas, and there are also respectively 598, 600 and 608 Jeevas in the 14th Gunasthana like any of the Kshapaka Shreni, such are the three opinions. (Shri Dhavla, book 3/244252 & 3/89-3/95-97)