Twenty-seven root samayas
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Twenty-seven root samayas — In the Dzogchen tradition there are twenty-seven root samayas of the body, speech and mind and twenty-five branch samayas.
Chökyi Drakpa enumerates them in the following way[1]:
- Firstly, there are three sets of three samayas related to the body.
- The outer three are to abandon stealing, sexual misconduct and taking life.
- The inner three are to abandon abusing your vajra family, including your own body; abusing the Dharma and other individuals, and striking your own body; and forcing yourself to undergo the hardship of extreme ascetic discipline.
- The secret three are to abandon striking the body of a vajra relative, or criticizing ornaments they may be wearing; striking your vajra sisters or making sexual advances to the Lama’s consort; and stepping on or over the Lama’s shadow, or acting carelessly with your body and speech in the Lama’s presence.
- There are three sets of three commitments related to the speech.
- The outer three are to abandon lying, slander and harsh words.
- The inner three are to abandon verbally disrespecting someone who teaches the Dharma, who contemplates its meaning, or who meditates on the natural state.
- The secret three are to abandon disrespect for the speech of your vajra brothers and sisters, those in the master’s entourage, or the master himself.
- There are three sets of three commitments related to the mind.
- The outer three are to abandon malice, covetousness and wrong view.
- The inner three are to abandon careless activity; dullness or agitation in your meditation; and clinging to the views of eternalism or nihilism.
- The secret three are to maintain an awareness of the view, meditation and action throughout every session of the day and night; to maintain an awareness of the yidam deity; and to have faith in the teacher and love for your vajra brothers and sisters.