Five types of Samitis (carefulness, circumspection)

The Five types of Samitis^[1] (carefulness, circumspection), which purify the actions by maintaining vigilance are Irya. Bhasha, Eshna, Adana-niksepa and Utsarga as explained below:

1. Irya samiti (carefulness in movements): Taking care while walking not to harm and hurt any living creature like insects or any movement with full mental awareness and attention to the acts results into purification.

2. Bhasa samiti (carefulness in speech): No indulgence in anger, conceit, greed, pride, laughter, fear, gossip and slandering. Only use faultless language with brevity and proper time.

3. Esana samiti (carefulness in exploring alms): while begging or accepting and using the required articles and bed one should ensure purity of all. Acquire only necessary items innocently.

4. Adana Niksepa samiti (Circumspection in taking, moving and keeping any object including bowls): A careful ascetic should observe and check himself while picking up and putting down both common and special equipment and items.

5. Utsarga or Paristhapanika samiti (carefulness in disposing waste): One should dispose stool, urine, mucus, slim from the nose, body dirt, waste things and even his body with due care at a suitable solitary place for disposal so as not to cause any inconvenience to anybody by becoming a source of nuisance, unsanitation or contamination. As this waste may cause generation of germs and insects and death of them.

As it is almost impossible to restrain all possible activities as mentioned in guptis below, one has to carry on many activities till he or she is alive, one can follow samitis by keeping awareness while performing them.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

īryābhāṣaiṣaṇā dāna nikṣepotsargā samitayaḥ | Tattvartha-sutra 9.1