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There are two types of Samayik based on the eligibility of the practitioner: 1. Samayik for householders and 2. Samayik for ascetics. According to tradition, Samayik for householders should be for one Muhurta (48 minutes), but they can also observe Samayik for longer durations based on their situation. Samayik for ascetics is for their entire lifetime.
Acharya Bhadrabahu has described three types of Samayik: 1. Samyaktv Samayik, 2. Shruta Samayik, and 3. Charitra Samayik. Both Samyaktv and Shruta are essential for the practice of equanimity. Without Samyaktv, Shruta cannot be pure, and neither can Charitra. First, firm faith leads to the purification of belief. Samyaktv does not involve blind faith. It involves the knowledge of discrimination. Shruta purifies thoughts. When belief and thoughts are pure, then Charitra becomes pure.
Samayik is a spiritual practice, therefore the question of caste does not arise in it. Harikeshi Muni was an Antyaj by caste, but through the practice of Samayik, he became worthy of being worshipped by the gods. Arjun Malakar, who was a cruel murderer one day, embraced liberation through the influence of Samayik practice.
Jain literature provides an incident of a Punia Shravak to illustrate the importance of Samayik. When Emperor Shrenik inquired, Lord Mahavira told him that he would be born in the first hell after death because he had accumulated such karmas. Emperor Shrenik asked for a way to escape hell. The Lord gave him four solutions. One of those solutions was to buy the Samayik of the Punia Shravak. When Shrenik went to buy the Samayik, the Punia Shravak said to him, "What is the price of one Samayik? You can ask Lord Mahavira." In response to King Shrenik's question, Lord Mahavira said, "O King! You have such vast wealth, but all this wealth is not enough to buy even a fraction of Samayik. The value of Samayik is far greater than that." The essence is that Samayik is a priceless practice. Spiritual practice cannot be compared to material wealth. In the face of spiritual wealth, material possessions are not only insignificant but negligible.
**Comparison: Buddhist and Vedic Tradition**
Samayik is the pure practice of Jain sadhana. This practice can be partially compared to the practices of other religions. Buddhism is a stream of Shraman culture. In that stream, the Eightfold Path is described for practice. The word Samyak is used before each element of the Eightfold Path, such as Samyakdrishti, Samyak-sankalp, Samyak-vachan, Samyak-karmanta, Samyak-ajiva, Samyak-vyayama, Samyak-smriti, and Samyak-samadhi.
1. Aavashyak Niyukti, Gatha 796
2. Samaiyam cha tiviham, sammattam suyam taha charittam cha. Duviham cheva charittam, agaram anagariyam cheva.
- Aavashyak Niyukti, 796
3. Uttaradhyayanasutra, Harikeshi Adhyayan, 12
4. Antakrit Dashaang, 6 Varga, Tritiya Adhyayan
5. (a) Digha Nikaya - Mahasatipatthana - Sutta (b) Samyutta Nikaya 5, p. 8-10
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