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Samaya

The somaya (Tibetan: དམ་ཚིག, Wylie: dam tshig, Japanese and Chinese: 三昧耶戒, J: sonmaya-kai, C: Sān mè yē jiè), is a set of vows or precepts given to initiates of an esoteric Vajrayana Buddhist order as part of the abhiṣeka (empowerment or initiation) ceremony that creates a bond between the guru and disciple.

According to Keown, et al., samaya may be defined as:

  • A particular system of teaching or doctrines;[1]
  • The conduct required of a tantric practitioner, often as a set of vows or commitments;[1][2]
  • The realization (abhisamaya) of Buddhahood;[1]
  • In Tantric Buddhism, union with the trikaya, the body, speech and mind of the Buddha.[1]

Indo-Tibetan Buddhism edit

Fourteen root downfalls edit

In one of the most widely followed teachings on samaya, Sakya Pandita, a preeminent 12th century Tibetan Buddhism scholar, outlined fourteen primary points of observance to consider in keeping one's samaya vow pure.[3]

  1. Disrespecting the vajra master.
  2. Transgressing the words of the buddhas.
  3. Insulting one's vajra brothers and sisters.
  4. Abandoning love for sentient beings.
  5. Abandoning the bodhichitta in aspiration or application.
  6. Criticizing the teachings of the sutras and tantras.
  7. Revealing secrets to those who are unworthy.
  8. Mistreating one's body.
  9. Rejecting emptiness.
  10. Keeping bad company.
  11. Failing to reflect on emptiness.
  12. Upsetting those who have faith in the teachings.
  13. Failing to observe the samaya commitments.
  14. Denigrating women.

Jamgon Kongtrul comments on the Lamrim Yeshe Ningpo that samaya is established by taking abhiṣeka and samaya is the manner in which practitioners "preserve the life-force of that empowerment within your being".[4]

Root and branch edit

Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche defines root samayas as any which if violated would remove all the benefit from practicing. He defines branch samayas as any which if violated would diminish or impair the benefit of practice. He states that the most egregious root samaya to violate is the commitment to one's guru.[5]

Foregrounding the mindful observance of the mindstream, whilst intimating the binding reciprocity of samaya, Gyatrul (b. 1924)[6] in his commentary to Chagmé (Wylie: karma-chags-med, fl. 17th century), rendered into English by Wallace (Chagmé et al., 1998: p. 29) states:

If a Lama obstinately refuses to grant instruction to a qualified disciple, this constitutes an infraction of the Lama's samaya. It is proper for the Lama to show some hesitation by not consenting on the first request in order to arouse and examine the disciple. It is not a ploy to see if the amount of offerings can be increased, but rather provides time to examine the student's mind-stream.[7]

In the Nyingma lineage, the three root samayas are categorized as body, speech, and mind. Each requires refraining from non-virtue as well as maintaining sacred view. Maintaining sacred view generally means to view all beings and all phenomenon as 'primordially pure' (Tib: kadak). The samaya of body is to refrain from non-virtue with respect to body, and also to always offer yourself to your guru and to your vajra sangha. The samaya of speech is to avoid non-virtuous speech, and also to never forget one's commitment to practicing mantra. The samaya of mind is to refrain from divulging the secrets and to always maintain the view that one's mind is dharmakaya.[8]

Repairing damaged samaya edit

According to Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, there are four increasing stages in which one's samaya may be damaged: "infraction, breach, violation, and complete break". Once damaged, samaya may be repaired. But if it is left without repair for more than three years, it is not repairable.[9]

Samaya is easily damaged. Patrul Rinpoche said it is very hard to maintain samaya and used a famous metaphor that maintaining samaya is like keeping a mirror or tile clean that is lifted up into a sand storm; dust settles on it as soon as it is clean and we must continuously clean it. To repair samaya, a practitioner may restore mindfulness and awareness of sacred view; confess the violation to another practitioner that holds samaya;[10] recite the one hundred syllable mantra (Vajrasattva mantra);[9] or use other methods determined by their guru.

Shingon Buddhism edit

In the esoteric lineage of Japanese Shingon Buddhism, the samaya precedes the Abhiseka initiation ceremony proper. The initiate undertakes four precepts:[11]

  1. Never to abandon the True Dharma.
  2. Never to negate bodhicitta.
  3. Never to withhold or be selective of Buddhist teachings toward others.
  4. Never to cause any sentient being any harm.

The first recorded taking of the samaya precepts at Tōdai-ji temple began in 822 when Kukai performed the Abhiseka ritual before the abdicated emperor, Heizei, and helped to establish Shingon Buddhism as a legitimate school in Japan.[11]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d Keown, et al. (2003) P.247
  2. ^ Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche. . Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
  3. ^ "Fourteen root downfalls". Rigpa Wiki. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  4. ^ Padmasambhava (1998) p.45
  5. ^ Karthar (2005) p. 259
  6. ^ Source: . Archived from the original on 2008-12-29. Retrieved 2009-03-25. (accessed: Wednesday March 25, 2009)
  7. ^ Chagmé, Karma (author, compilor); Gyatrul Rinpoche (commentary) & Wallace, B. Alan (translator) (1998). A Spacious Path to Freedom: Practical Instructions on the Union of Mahamudra and Atiyoga. Ithaca, New York, USA: Snow Lion Publications. ISBN 978-1-55939-071-2; ISBN 1-55939-071-9, p.29
  8. ^ Padmasambhava (1998) pp.48-49
  9. ^ a b Urgyen (2006) p.97
  10. ^ Fischer (2005) p.30
  11. ^ a b Abe, Ryuichi (1999). The Weaving of Mantra: Kukai and the Construction of Esoteric Buddhist Discourse. Columbia University Press. pp. 43, 44. ISBN 0-231-11286-6.

References edit

  • Fischer, Norman; Henry, Patrick; Benedict; and Barry, Patrick (2005) Benedict's Dharma: Buddhists Reflect on the Rule of Saint Benedict ISBN 0-8264-8607-X
  • Karthar, Khenpo (2005) Karma Chakme's Mountain Dharma ISBN 0-9741092-0-7
  • Keown, Damien (ed.) with Hodge, Stephen; Jones, Charles; Tinti, Paola (2003). A Dictionary of Buddhism. Great Britain, Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-860560-9
  • Padmasambhava and Kongtrul, Jamgon (1998) Light of Wisdom Vol II: A Collection of Padmasambhava's Advice to the Dakini Yeshe ISBN 962-7341-33-9 pp. 45–51
  • Urgyen, Tulku with Marcia Binder Schmidt and Erik Pema Kunsang (2006) Repeating the Words of the Buddha ISBN 962-7341-59-2

samaya, other, uses, disambiguation, confused, with, samādhi, somaya, tibetan, དམ, wylie, tshig, japanese, chinese, 三昧耶戒, sonmaya, sān, jiè, vows, precepts, given, initiates, esoteric, vajrayana, buddhist, order, part, abhiṣeka, empowerment, initiation, ceremo. For other uses see Samaya disambiguation Not to be confused with Samadhi The somaya Tibetan དམ ཚ ག Wylie dam tshig Japanese and Chinese 三昧耶戒 J sonmaya kai C San me ye jie is a set of vows or precepts given to initiates of an esoteric Vajrayana Buddhist order as part of the abhiṣeka empowerment or initiation ceremony that creates a bond between the guru and disciple According to Keown et al samaya may be defined as A particular system of teaching or doctrines 1 The conduct required of a tantric practitioner often as a set of vows or commitments 1 2 The realization abhisamaya of Buddhahood 1 In Tantric Buddhism union with the trikaya the body speech and mind of the Buddha 1 Contents 1 Indo Tibetan Buddhism 1 1 Fourteen root downfalls 1 2 Root and branch 1 3 Repairing damaged samaya 2 Shingon Buddhism 3 Notes 4 ReferencesIndo Tibetan Buddhism editFourteen root downfalls edit In one of the most widely followed teachings on samaya Sakya Pandita a preeminent 12th century Tibetan Buddhism scholar outlined fourteen primary points of observance to consider in keeping one s samaya vow pure 3 Disrespecting the vajra master Transgressing the words of the buddhas Insulting one s vajra brothers and sisters Abandoning love for sentient beings Abandoning the bodhichitta in aspiration or application Criticizing the teachings of the sutras and tantras Revealing secrets to those who are unworthy Mistreating one s body Rejecting emptiness Keeping bad company Failing to reflect on emptiness Upsetting those who have faith in the teachings Failing to observe the samaya commitments Denigrating women Jamgon Kongtrul comments on the Lamrim Yeshe Ningpo that samaya is established by taking abhiṣeka and samaya is the manner in which practitioners preserve the life force of that empowerment within your being 4 Root and branch edit Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche defines root samayas as any which if violated would remove all the benefit from practicing He defines branch samayas as any which if violated would diminish or impair the benefit of practice He states that the most egregious root samaya to violate is the commitment to one s guru 5 Foregrounding the mindful observance of the mindstream whilst intimating the binding reciprocity of samaya Gyatrul b 1924 6 in his commentary to Chagme Wylie karma chags med fl 17th century rendered into English by Wallace Chagme et al 1998 p 29 states If a Lama obstinately refuses to grant instruction to a qualified disciple this constitutes an infraction of the Lama s samaya It is proper for the Lama to show some hesitation by not consenting on the first request in order to arouse and examine the disciple It is not a ploy to see if the amount of offerings can be increased but rather provides time to examine the student s mind stream 7 In the Nyingma lineage the three root samayas are categorized as body speech and mind Each requires refraining from non virtue as well as maintaining sacred view Maintaining sacred view generally means to view all beings and all phenomenon as primordially pure Tib kadak The samaya of body is to refrain from non virtue with respect to body and also to always offer yourself to your guru and to your vajra sangha The samaya of speech is to avoid non virtuous speech and also to never forget one s commitment to practicing mantra The samaya of mind is to refrain from divulging the secrets and to always maintain the view that one s mind is dharmakaya 8 Repairing damaged samaya edit According to Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche there are four increasing stages in which one s samaya may be damaged infraction breach violation and complete break Once damaged samaya may be repaired But if it is left without repair for more than three years it is not repairable 9 Samaya is easily damaged Patrul Rinpoche said it is very hard to maintain samaya and used a famous metaphor that maintaining samaya is like keeping a mirror or tile clean that is lifted up into a sand storm dust settles on it as soon as it is clean and we must continuously clean it To repair samaya a practitioner may restore mindfulness and awareness of sacred view confess the violation to another practitioner that holds samaya 10 recite the one hundred syllable mantra Vajrasattva mantra 9 or use other methods determined by their guru Shingon Buddhism editIn the esoteric lineage of Japanese Shingon Buddhism the samaya precedes the Abhiseka initiation ceremony proper The initiate undertakes four precepts 11 Never to abandon the True Dharma Never to negate bodhicitta Never to withhold or be selective of Buddhist teachings toward others Never to cause any sentient being any harm The first recorded taking of the samaya precepts at Tōdai ji temple began in 822 when Kukai performed the Abhiseka ritual before the abdicated emperor Heizei and helped to establish Shingon Buddhism as a legitimate school in Japan 11 Notes edit a b c d Keown et al 2003 P 247 Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche On the meaning of samaya Archived from the original on 2007 09 27 Retrieved 2008 01 22 Fourteen root downfalls Rigpa Wiki Retrieved July 1 2018 Padmasambhava 1998 p 45 Karthar 2005 p 259 Source Ven Gyatrul Rinpoche Tashi Choling Center for Buddhist Studies Archived from the original on 2008 12 29 Retrieved 2009 03 25 accessed Wednesday March 25 2009 Chagme Karma author compilor Gyatrul Rinpoche commentary amp Wallace B Alan translator 1998 A Spacious Path to Freedom Practical Instructions on the Union of Mahamudra and Atiyoga Ithaca New York USA Snow Lion Publications ISBN 978 1 55939 071 2 ISBN 1 55939 071 9 p 29 Padmasambhava 1998 pp 48 49 a b Urgyen 2006 p 97 Fischer 2005 p 30 a b Abe Ryuichi 1999 The Weaving of Mantra Kukai and the Construction of Esoteric Buddhist Discourse Columbia University Press pp 43 44 ISBN 0 231 11286 6 References editFischer Norman Henry Patrick Benedict and Barry Patrick 2005 Benedict s Dharma Buddhists Reflect on the Rule of Saint Benedict ISBN 0 8264 8607 X Karthar Khenpo 2005 Karma Chakme s Mountain Dharma ISBN 0 9741092 0 7 Keown Damien ed with Hodge Stephen Jones Charles Tinti Paola 2003 A Dictionary of Buddhism Great Britain Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 860560 9 Padmasambhava and Kongtrul Jamgon 1998 Light of Wisdom Vol II A Collection of Padmasambhava s Advice to the Dakini Yeshe ISBN 962 7341 33 9 pp 45 51 Urgyen Tulku with Marcia Binder Schmidt and Erik Pema Kunsang 2006 Repeating the Words of the Buddha ISBN 962 7341 59 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Samaya amp oldid 1215068986, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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