Lay Followers
Grandfather's Samayik
दादाजी की सामायिक · દાદાજીની સામાયિક
Forty eight minutes, one woollen mat, and a mind that will not sit still
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
Every morning in Antwerp, eight year old Anvi's grandfather sits perfectly still for forty eight minutes. One Sunday she asks to join him, and finds out that sitting still is much harder, and much more interesting, than it looks.
What it teaches Samayik Equanimity Patience
The opening of the children's telling
Anvi's grandfather, Bapuji, came to stay for the winter. Every morning he sat on a little woollen mat. He turned over a tiny sand timer. Then he sat very, very still, for forty eight minutes. He did not talk. He did not get up.
"What are you doing, Bapuji?" asked Anvi. "I am doing samayik," said Bapuji. "For a little while, I stay calm and kind, and I do not hurt anything. I sit quietly with my own soul. It is like visiting a dear friend."
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
A calm mind is not one that never wanders, but one that keeps coming home.
To talk about together
What helps you bring your mind back when it wanders off?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.