Jain Digest 2005 07

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 19

SÄMÄYIK
The First Discipline
Manubhai Doshi, Chicago, Il
Na Sämyen Vina Dhyanam Na Dhyänen Vina Cha Tat Nishkampam Jäyate Tasmat, Dvayamanyonyakäranam
---Yogshästra
(No meditation without equanimity; No equanimity without meditation;
Both are interdependent; One can gained stability thereby)
f the twelve restraints for laymen, we have by now misery, poverty, shortage, disease, disputes, etc. At present, peoexamined five minor restraints and three auxiliary ple everywhere happen to be living under stress. They resort to ones. Now we have to consider four disciplinary ones. various ways and means to gain peace of mind that unfortunate
As a matter of fact, they are the disciplines and not the ly eludes them. Jainism offers for this purpose the tool of Sämäyik restraints. The restraints are cast in negative form in the sense of that can guarantee the peace of mind. Some people may perhaps not doing something or restraining therefrom. The disciplines, consider this as too tall a claim, because they might have noticed on the other hand, are cast in positive form in the sense of per- many Jains regularly performing Sämäyik and still remaining forming something. The first of them is Sämäyik. There are fol- bereft of peace. This happens because people usually perform it lowing six rituals that a layman is supposed to perform every day. mechanically as a lifeless ritual. The results expected from true
Sämäyik, cannot come forth from such mechanical performance 1 Sämäyik, practicing of equanimity
and the people then lose faith in the efficacy of this vital tool. 2 Chaturvinshati-Stav, praying to 24 Tirthankars 3 Guru Vandan, offering obeisance to preceptor
Peace is a function of mind. Mental apparatus has to be 4 Pratikraman, turning back from transgressions
properly exercised, if one wants to experience real peace. Ample 5 Käyotsarga (Käusagga), concentration and meditation evidence is now available to show that one can gain peace of mind 6 Pratyäkhyan (Pachchakhän), taking appropriate vows by concentration and meditation. Sämäyik is essentially an exer
cise of this type and it can lead the aspirant to equanimity and The Sanskrit term for essential is Ävashyak. These six peace. During Sämäyik, the aspirant learns to stay away from all essentials are therefore known as six Avashyaks. Of these, sorts of craving and aversion and to stay tuned to the nature of Sämäyik is the first and foremost. Foremost in the sense that no soul. This tuning is not easy. One has to practice it repeatedly by other activity is considered spiritually more significant than meditating about the true nature of soul. If one is not used to Sämäyik. The term Sämäyik is made up of the words 'Sam' mean- meditation, he can initially devote his time in reading books that ing equanimity and Ay' meaning incoming. The termination Ik deal with soul or in listening to the talks about it. Simultaneously, is applied to show that what brings forth equanimity is Sämäyik. he has to avoid all sorts of instincts that defile the mind. If a perAlternately, the term can be derived from Samay which means son thus performs Sämäyik properly, he can surely gain peace of soul. As such, the activity that deals with soul is Sämäyik. In other mind that seems to have been lost at present. words, when a person remains soul oriented, he can be said to be staying in Sämäyik.
Let us now examine the traditional formalities for per
forming Sämäyik. Bhagavati Sutra defines Sämäyik as dwelling in selfequanimity. This is given from the absolute point of view. From
PRELIMINARIES: One should get physically cleaned, the practical point of view Acharya Hemchandrasuri defines it as put on clean clothes, hold Muhapatti (clean white piece of cloth giving up worldly involvement and staying in equanimity for 48 folded in specific pattern) in hand between the palm and the minutes. As such, equanimity, soul orientation, peace of mind thumb and sit in front of preceptor's seat, if there be one. etc. can be considered synonyms of Sämäyik.
Otherwise, he should set up some religious book on a small
stand, place over it the rosary of 108 beads called Navkärwäli and Sämäyik is the exercise for gaining equanimity. It is a assume that apparatus to be the seat of preceptor. Then holding pertinent tool for the ailing human community that at present Muhapatti in the left hand and extending the right palm towards stands torn on account of worries and afflictions arising from that seat, he should recite the Navkärmantra.
17. JAIN DIGEST SUMMER 2005