Answer

In Jain Dharma, gunasthana means a “spiritual stage” of the soul. There are 14 gunasthanas, showing how the soul gradually rises from delusion toward liberation.

You asked to start from samyagdrishti onwards. Samyagdrishti is the 4th gunasthana. So below are stages 4 to 14, step by step, in very simple language.

Step-by-Step Gunasthanas from Samyagdrishti Onwards

4. Avirata Samyagdrishti Gunasthana

This is the stage where the soul has gained right faith.

The person now truly believes in the truth of Jain Dharma, such as:

• soul exists,
• karma exists,
• bondage and liberation are real,
• the path shown by the Jinas is true.

But the person has not yet taken vows properly. Passions and worldly habits are still present.

Simple meaning: “I now see the right path, but I have not fully started walking on it.”

5. Desavirata Gunasthana

Here the person begins spiritual discipline by taking partial vows.

This is generally the stage of a serious Jain householder who follows vows such as:

• limited non-violence,
• truthfulness,
• non-stealing,
• celibacy according to capacity,
• limiting possessions.

The person still lives in the world but starts controlling harmful actions.

Simple meaning: “I have started walking on the path, but only partly.”

6. Pramatta Samyata Gunasthana

This is the stage of a monk or nun who has taken complete vows, but still has some carelessness.

The person has accepted full renunciation, but small negligence may still occur due to:

• laziness,
• sleep,
• minor carelessness,
• subtle attachment.

Simple meaning: “I have fully accepted discipline, but I am not yet perfectly careful.”

7. Apramatta Samyata Gunasthana

Here the monk or nun becomes free from carelessness.

The person is now very alert in conduct, speech, thought, movement, and discipline.

There is still karma and passion, but spiritual awareness is stronger.

Simple meaning: “I am now practicing full discipline with great care.”

8. Apurva Karana Gunasthana

This is a very advanced inner stage.

The soul experiences a new and extraordinary spiritual purification that had not happened before.

Gross passions are becoming much weaker.

Simple meaning: “A new and deep purification has begun inside me.”

9. Anivritti Karana Gunasthana

The purification becomes even stronger.

The soul continues removing deeper layers of passion and attachment.

The spiritual progress is more refined than the previous stage.

Simple meaning: “The inner cleaning is continuing at a much deeper level.”

10. Sukshma Samparaya Gunasthana

At this stage, only a very subtle form of passion remains.

Especially, a very fine form of attachment or greed is still present.

Other stronger passions have been greatly weakened or removed.

Simple meaning: “Almost all passions are gone, but a tiny subtle attachment still remains.”

11. Upashanta Kashaya Gunasthana

Here passions are suppressed, not completely destroyed.

The soul becomes very pure temporarily, but because the passions are only suppressed, there is still a possibility of falling back.

Simple meaning: “My passions are quiet for now, but their root is not fully destroyed.”

12. Kshina Kashaya Gunasthana

Here the destructive passions are destroyed.

This is much higher than suppression. The roots of the passions are cut.

The soul is very close to omniscience.

Simple meaning: “The deep roots of passion are destroyed.”

13. Sayoga Kevali Gunasthana

At this stage, the soul attains kevaljnan, infinite and perfect knowledge.

The person is now a Kevali, an omniscient being.

“Sayoga” means that slight activity of body, speech, and mind still remains.

Simple meaning: “Perfect knowledge has appeared, but bodily life is still continuing.”

14. Ayoga Kevali Gunasthana

This is the final stage before liberation.

All activity of body, speech, and mind stops completely.

Immediately after this, the soul becomes liberated and reaches Siddha state.

Simple meaning: “All activity stops, and the soul is ready to become fully liberated.”

Spiritual Understanding

The journey from the 4th to the 14th gunasthana shows the soul’s rise from right faith to complete liberation.

In very simple terms:

• 4th: Right faith begins.
• 5th: Partial vows begin.
• 6th: Full vows with some carelessness.
• 7th: Full vows with carefulness.
• 8th–10th: Deep inner purification.
• 11th: Passions are suppressed.
• 12th: Passions are destroyed.
• 13th: Kevaljnan is attained.
• 14th: Final stillness before moksha.

Takeaway

The gunasthanas teach that liberation is a step-by-step purification of the soul. First comes right faith, then right conduct, then deep destruction of passions, then kevaljnan, and finally moksha.