{{Short description|Vow of periodic concentration in Jainism}} {{Italic title}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=March 2016}} {{Jainism}} '''''Sāmāyika''''' is the second ''siksavrata'' (ritual restraint) in Jainism,{{sfn|Jaini|1998|pp=180–181}}{{efn|name="siksavrata"}} and one of the essential duties prescribed for both the ''Śrāvaka'' (householders) and ascetics. It is commonly interpreted as a practice of "brief periods in meditation," to achieve equanimity, but connotes more than meditation.{{sfn|Johnson|1995|pp=189–190}} According to Dundas, ''samayika'' seems to have meant "correct behavior" in early Jainism,{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=170}} and for a Jain householder is the voluntary ritual practice of "assuming temporary ascetic status".{{sfn|Johnson|1995|pp=189–190}}
==Etymology== The name ''Sāmāyika'' is derived from the term ''samaya'' "time" in Prakrit. According to Dundas, ''samayika'' seems to have meant "correct behavior" in early Jainism.{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=170}}
Jains use ''samayika'' to denote the practice of meditation. According to ''Achārya Pujyapada's Sarvārthasiddhi'': {{blockquote|The preposition ‘''sam''’ means one state of being. For instance, ghee becomes one with the thing mixed. To become one is ''samaya''. That, which has oneness as its object, is ''sāmāyikam''.{{sfn|Jain, S.A.|1960|p=203}}}}
==Texts== According to the Jain text, ''Purushartha Siddhyupaya'' (95): {{blockquote|After renouncing all attachments and aversions, and adopting a sense of equanimity in all objects, one should practise, many times, periodic concentration (''sāmāyika''), the principal means to realize the true nature of the Self.{{sfn|Jain|2012|p=95}}}}
The ''Puruşārthasiddhyupāya'' further states: {{blockquote|For the sake of strengthening the performance of daily meditation (''sāmāyika''), one must undertake fasting twice each lunar fortnight (''proşadhopavāsa'').{{sfn|Jain|2012|p=98}}}}
According to the Jain text, Ratnakaranda śrāvakācāra (104), while performing ''sāmayika'', one should meditate on: {{blockquote|"I am involved in the ''saṃsāra'' (cycle of transmigration) in which there is no protection for souls, which is inauspicious, transitory and full of pain, and of the nature of not-Self; ''moksha'' is the opposite of this"-thus should one meditate while performing ''sāmayika''.}}
==Practice==
===Aim=== According to Padmanabh Jaini, ''sāmāyika'' is a practice of "brief periods in meditation" in Jainism that is a part of ''siksavrata'' (ritual restraint).{{sfn|Jaini|1998|pp=180–181}} The goal of ''Sāmāyika'' is to achieve equanimity, and it is the second ''siksavrata''.{{efn|name="siksavrata"|The first is desavakasika (staying in a restrained surrounding, cutting down worldly activities). The third is ''posadhopavasa'' (fasting on the 8th and 14th days on lunar waxing and waning cycles). The fourth is ''dana'' (giving alms to Jain monks, nuns or spiritual people).{{sfn|Jaini|1998|pp=180–181}}}}
According to Johnson, as well as Jaini, ''samayika'' connotes more than meditation, and for a Jain householder is the voluntary ritual practice of "assuming temporary ascetic status".{{sfn|Johnson|1995|pp=189–190}}
According to Champat Rai Jain, ''sāmāyika'' aims at perfection in conduct and complete renunciation, and is "the sole and the immediate cause of salvation."{{efn|Champat Rai Jain: "''Sāmāyika'' aims at the attainment of divinity through perfection in conduct, which, consisting, as it does, in the purest and most complete form of renunciation, is the sole and the immediate cause of salvation, that is of wholeness and freedom from the pain and misery of ''saṃsāra'' (births and deaths)."{{sfn|Jain, Champat Rai|1975|p=254–255}}}}
''Sāmāyika'' is also one of the five kinds of conduct (''cāritra'') other kinds being reinitiation, purity of non-injury, slight passion and perfect conduct. It is of two kinds — with and without time limit.{{sfn|Jain, S.A.|1960|p=261}}
===Procedure=== The ''sāmāyika'' is performed for an ''antara-muhurta'' (about 48 minutes) every day. According to Champat Rai Jain, householders perform the ''sāmāyika'' one to three times a day, "gradually extending its duration also from one ''antaramuhurta'' to three times as much at each sitting."{{efn|Champat Rai Jain: "The layman who has just entered the path observes the ''sāmāyika'' meditation but once daily in the morning, for he is not able to tear himself away from business and pleasure at that early stage in his spiritual career to be able to perform it more often; but as he progresses onwards, he takes to its observance three times – morning, noon and evening – every day, gradually extending its duration also from one ''antaramuhurta'' to three times as much at each sitting."{{sfn|Jain, Champat Rai|1975|p=254–255}}}}
The posture for ''sāmāyika'' may be either{{sfn|Jain, Champat Rai|1926|p=39-40}} # ''padma āsana'', the sitting posture, with inter-locked legs (the right one placed on the left thigh and the left on the right), the hands placed in the lap with the palms facing upwards (the right one being on the top), and with attention fixed on the foremost point of the nose; # ''khadga āsana'', the standing posture, with feet at a distance of about two inches from each other, the hands resting naturally by the sides, but not so as to touch the body; and attention fixed on the point of the nose as in the ''padma āsana''; or # ''ardha padma āsana'' or the semi-padma posture, which differs from the padma in respect of the position of the left leg, which is placed under the right thigh.
Facing north or east the ''śrāvaka'' bows to the ''Pañca-Parameṣṭhi''.{{sfn|Jain, Champat Rai|1917|p=44, 61}} He then recites the Namokara mantra a certain number of times, and finally devotes himself to holy meditation. This consists in:{{sfn|Jain, Champat Rai|1917|p=45}} *''pratikramana'', recounting the sins committed and repenting for them, *''pratyākhyanā'', resolving to avoid particular sins in future, *''sāmāyika karma'', renunciation of personal attachments, and the cultivation of a feeling of regarding every body and thing alike, *''stuti'', praising the four and twenty ''Tīrthankaras'', *''vandanā'', devotion to a particular ''Tirthankara'', and *''kāyotsarga'', withdrawal of attention from the body (physical personality) and becoming absorbed in the contemplation of the spiritual Self.
''Sāmayika'' can be performed anywhere, at a temple, private residence, forest and the like, but shouldn't be open to disturbance.{{sfn|Jain, Champat Rai |1917|p=45}}
=== Householders === A layperson includes ''samayika'' ritual with other ritual practices such as ''Puja'' in a Jain temple and doing charity work.{{sfn|Jaini|1998|pp=180–182}}{{sfn|Jain, S.A.|1992|p=261}}{{sfn|Shah|2004|pp=128–131}} In Jainism, six essential duties are prescribed for a ''śrāvaka'' (householder), out of which one duty is ''Samayika''. These help the laity in achieving the principle of ''ahimsa'' which is necessary for his/her spiritual upliftment.{{sfn|Jain|2012|p=v}} The ''sāmayika vrata'' (vow to meditate) is intended to be observed three times a day if possible; other-wise at least once daily. Its objective is to enable the ''śrāvaka'' to abstain from all kinds of sins during the period of time fixed for its observance. The usual duration of the ''sāmayika'' vow is an ''antara mūharta'' (a period of time not exceeding 48 minutes).{{sfn|Jain, Champat Rai |1917|p=44}}
During this period, which the layman spends in study and meditation, he vows to refrain from the commission of the five kinds of sin — injury, falsehood, theft, unchastity and love of material possessions in any of the three ways. These three ways are:{{sfn|Jain, Champat Rai |1917|pp=27, 44}}- * by an act of mind, speech or body (''krita''), * inciting others to commit such an act (''kārita''), * approving the commission of such an act by others (''anumodanā'').
The householders, due to the absence of all sinful activities during the period of meditation (''sāmāyika''), observe great vows, although the conduct-deluding ''karmas'' remain in operation.
According to ''Achārya Pujyapada's Sarvārthasiddhi'': {{blockquote|One attains the great vows when one practises ''sāmāyika'' (concentration) at a particular place and time, since one is free from minute and gross injury and so on. It is argued that it would be perfect restraint and discipline (''sanyan''). But it is untenable, as there is the presence of karmas or passions which arrest complete restraint. In that case these should not be called great vows. No. These are called great vows figuratively.{{sfn|Jain, S.A.|1960|p=203}}}}
Jain texts list down five transgressions of the vow of ''sāmāyika''. These are: misdirected activity of the speech, mind, and body, lack of earnestness, and absent mindedness.
=== Ascetics === The ascetic has to perform the ''sāmāyika'' three times a day. According to Champat Rai Jain, for accomplished ascetics, embodying desirelessness, their whole life is "a continuous ''sāmāyika''."{{efn|Champat Rai Jain: "The ascetic who has successfully passed through the preliminary stages of renunciation, as a householder, is expected to be an embodiment of desirelessness itself, so that his whole life is, as it were, a continuous ''sāmāyika'' from one end to the other."{{sfn|Jain, Champat Rai|1975|p=254–255}}}}
In performing the ''samayika'' meditation the following points are prescribed for the monk:{{sfn|Jain, Champat Rai|1926|p=41-43}} #she should not perform it disrespectfully,{{sfn|Jain, Champat Rai|1926|p=41}} #nor filled with pride of learning, #nor to be considered pious by her fellow-women, #nor in a manner to cause disturbance to any other living being, #she should not move the body about at the time, #nor force it into a crooked position, e.g. bending the fingers. #not contract or gather together the bodily limbs,{{sfn|Jain, Champat Rai|1926|p=42}} #not raise herself up and down like a fish on the top of a wave; #she should rid her mind of all cruel thoughts; #she should not encircle her knees with her hands; #she should not become engaged in its performance imbued with fear, #or with disgust, or without understanding its aim, #or filled with conceit at her supernatural acquisitions (if any), #nor with pride of birth; #she should not take to it (samayika) sneakingly, that is as a thief, i.e., behind the back of the (preceptor), #nor neglect its proper time, #she should not allow the mind to be filled with unholy thoughts of hatred and the like for others; #she should not excite fear in any one's heart, #not talk to any one at the time, #nor think evil of any one, #nor suffer herself to frown, #nor entertain ungenerous sentiments in her heart, #nor allow her gaze to wander about in different directions,{{sfn|Jain, Champat Rai|1926|p=43}} #nor sit down without carefully inspecting the ground, to avoid causing injury to insect life, #nor lose interest in the middle of the process. #nor should she neglect it altogether for the want of any of the necessary accessories, #she shouldn't allow her heart to be assailed by desire for sense-gratification, #nor omit to recite the whole of the recitation, nor get up in the middle (that is, before the end of the text appointed for the purpose), #nor blur over her words, nor hurry over some parts and linger unnecessarily over others; #nor mumble, like a dumb person, nor make faces or signs, #nor vociferate in a croaky voice, like a frog; and, #she should not allow her mind to play the truant at the time, that is, to run after the good things of the world.
==Notes== {{Notelist|2}}
==References== {{reflist|25em}}
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{{Jainism topics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Samayika}} Category:Jain practices