Spiritual Code and Restraints

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 55

reading books that deal with soul or in listening to the talks about it. Simultaneously, he has to avoid all sorts of instincts that defile the mind. If a person thus performs Sämäyik properly, he can surely gain peace of mind that seems to have been lost at present.
Let us now examine the traditional formalities for performing Sämäyik.
PRELIMINARIES
One should get physically cleaned, put on clean clothes, hold Muhapatti (clean white piece of cloth folded in specific pattern) in hand between the palm and the thumb and sit in front of preceptor's seat, if there be one. Otherwise, he should set up some religious book on a small stand, place over it the rosary of 108 beads called Navkärwäli and assume that apparatus to be the seat of preceptor. Then holding Muhapatti in the left hand and extending the right palm towards that seat, he should recite the Navkärmantra.
Mantra means a charm and Navkärmantra is considered the most sacred charm. Its main significance is that instead of offering obeisance to any particular entity, it offers that to all the holders of defined attributes, irrespective of their individuality. Moreover, offering of obeisance helps in cultivating the sense of modesty. It makes the heart receptive to the real purpose of spiritual activities. In fact, modesty is a prerequisite of spiritual pursuit.
While reciting Navkärmantra, the aspirant should bear in mind that his soul is inherently imbibed with the attributes possessed by the omniscient and the liberated souls. What is required is the endeavor to manifest the same. In such an endeavor, one cannot indulge in any unwholesome activity. It is therefore said in Navkärmantra that the fivefold obeisance eradicates all sins and it is the most blissful.
Thereafter one should recite the Panchindiya Sutra that describes preceptor's 36 attributes, which are supposed to be incorporated in the assumed seat for preceptor.
Then the aspirant pays homage to the preceptor by reciting the following Khamäsaman Sutra. While doing that, the feet up to the knees, hands up to the elbows and the forehead should be touching the floor.
Ichchhami Khamäsamano Vandiun Jävanizzäe Nisihiäe Matthaena Vandämi.
It means, `Embodiment of forgiveness, being desirous of bowing, I give up the defilements to the utmost possible extent and kneel at your feet with my head down.' (Instead of this Sutra, the Sthänakwäsi people usually recite Tikhutto that conveys the same meaning.)
sually teour feet wit give up
KÄUSAGGA OR KÄYOTSARGA
Sämäyik being an exercise in equanimity, the aspirant now gets ready to enter that stage. Equanimity presupposes non-violence. The aspirant however realizes that he might have caused violence or distress to other living beings during his movements. For atonement of