Imagine a staircase of inner growth—twelve clearly marked landings that guide the soul from confusion all the way to pure perception. The Tattvārthasūtra lays them out one by one, each building on the last:

1. Wrong Belief (Mithyātva)
   Reality cloaked by doubts and misconceptions, like watching the world through frosted glass.

2. Downfall from Right Belief (Saṃsāra-samparāya)
   A half-hearted faith that slips back into old habits, much as a new habit fizzles without effort.

3. Mixed Belief (Miśra-darśana)
   One foot in light, one in shadow—intellectually convinced, yet emotions still tug toward old comforts.

4. Right Belief without Vows (Avirata-samyag-darśana)
   Clarity of vision arrives, though no real commitment has yet taken root.

5. Partial Vow (Deśavirata-saṃyama)
   Small vows are taken—like cutting down on sugar for a week—yet full self-control remains a challenge.

6. Negligent Vow (Pramattasamyata)
   Vigilance lapses, old patterns peek through cracks in the resolve.

7. Non-negligent Vow (Apramattasamyata)
   A turning point: vows stick, missteps become rare, discipline feels more natural.

8. New Thought-Patterns (Apūrva-karaṇa)
   Fresh attitudes emerge, as if planting seeds of compassion and clarity.

9. Slightest Passions (Anivṛttikaraṇa)
   Tiny residual impulses float by—like a last leaf refusing to let go in autumn.

10. Subdued Afflictions (Upaśanta-kāṣāya)
    Even those flickers are suppressed; the mind’s waters run almost perfectly still.

11. Destroyed Afflictions (Kṣīṇa-kāṣāya)
    No trace of greed, anger or pride remains—only a pure mirror reflecting reality.

12. Omniscience (Kevalajñāna)
    All veils lift. Perception expands infinitely, karmic bonds dissolve, and liberation dawns.

Today’s mindfulness apps and “level-up” culture might package self-improvement a little differently, yet this age-old roadmap proves that genuine inner transformation still unfolds one intentional step at a time.