Samaya

The samaya (Tibetan: དམ་ཚིག, Wylie: dam tshig, Japanese and Chinese: 三昧耶戒, sanmaya-kai, Sānmóyéjiè), 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:

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".

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".

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