In Jain dharma, the soul’s journey is described from the lowest stage of existence (nigod) up to samyag‑darshan (right vision), and then further to moksha. I’ll keep it focused just till samyagdrishti as you asked.

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1. Starting point – Nigod

• Nigod jiv = souls in the most undeveloped state.
• They:

- Have only one sense (touch) - Exist in clusters (anant jiv in one body) - Are in deep karmic bondage and almost no spiritual capacity

• For countless ages, a soul remains like this. This is practically the starting point of its visible journey in Jain cosmology.

From here, very rarely, a soul gets the chance to move out of nigod.

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2. From Nigod to Higher Births

Once a soul comes out of nigod:

1. It takes births in ekendriya (one-sensed) forms – earth, water, fire, air, plants.
2. Then, as karmas ripen and conditions change, it can be born as:

- Two–five sensed animals/insects - Humans - Heavenly (deva) beings - Hell (narak) beings

This going up–down is all controlled by own karma, not by any creator-god.

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3. Special importance of Human Birth

Both Digambar and Shwetambar agree:

• Human birth is the main door to:

- Samyag‑darshan (right faith) - Keval‑jnan and Moksha

In heavenly and hellish states, and in most animal lives, the soul enjoys or suffers but normally doesn’t start true spiritual path. In human birth, the soul can:

• Hear true dharma
• Reflect on jiva–ajiva, karma, tattvas
• Take vows, do tapa, samayik, pratikraman, meditation

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4. When does Samyagdrishti arise?

Samyag‑darshan = the first real spiritual “awakening”.

It arises when:

1. The soul gets right teaching (true Jain doctrine, from Tirthankar-parampara or their authentic lineage).
2. Its Darshan‑Mohaniya karma (faith‑deluding karma) is partially or fully destroyed/subdued.
3. A deep inner conviction appears:

- “Soul is real, eternal, different from body and matter.” - “Karma is real, bondage is real, moksha is my true goal.” - Firm faith in Tattvas, Ratnatraya, Arihant–Siddha–Sadhu–Dharma.

From karmic viewpoint, this is entry into gunasthana 4 – Avirata Samyagdrishti (for householders first getting right faith).

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5. Brief steps from Nigod to Samyagdrishti (very simplified)

1. Nigod – infinite time in dormant state.
2. Ekendriya to Panchendriya – gradual development of senses and mind through many births.
3. Human birth – rare and highly valuable.
4. Contact with true Jain dharma – satsang, scriptures, sadhu/sadhvi, shravak tradition.
5. Shraddha-parivartan – inner faith shifts from wrong beliefs to:

- Tattvartha shraddha (faith in tattvas) - Reverence for Arihant–Siddha–Acharya–Upadhyay–Sadhu

1. Darshan‑Mohaniya karma shaken – due to:

- Punya from past good conduct - Present study, reflection, punya‑upadesha, slight tapas

1. Samyag‑darshan arises – the soul becomes samyagdrishti jiv.

From here, the further journey is:

• Strengthening right faith
• Gaining samyak‑jnan
• Practising samyak‑charitra
• Moving up through higher gunasthanas towards keval‑jnan and moksha.

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6. Digambar–Shwetambar view

On this topic, both traditions agree on the essence:

• Beginning from nigod and other lower yonis
• Rare human birth
• Samyag‑darshan as the first true spiritual turning point
• Progress by Ratnatraya
• Final goal: siddha‑pad (moksha)

Differences are mainly:

• Technical details of gunasthana descriptions
• Some scriptural examples and classifications

But the core journey nigod → many births → human → samyagdrishti → upwards is common.

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If you want next, we can go step‑by‑step through all 14 gunasthanas starting from samyagdrishti onwards, in very simple language.