It is interesting to me that the Jain Meditative Tradition develops primarily after the original canonical texts were written. A few lines about Mahavira and Parsva attaining enlightenment through meditation, a few lines about abstract meditation / samadhi, but very little specifics are given in the original texts. Samayika, the primary Jain meditative practice, develops later in the tradition and new forms of practice continue to develop into present day (for instance “preksha-dhyana” meditation). Even Samayika is not well defined and codified with accepted and set instructions for meditators. Take a meditative posture, say your Samayika-path, and just sit.
Some thoughts from Dogen (Zen Buddhist) come to mind…
“Later, I thought about the meaning of his questions. I realized that reading recorded sayings and koans, studying the deeds of ancient masters, and explaining them to the deluded are of no use for one’s own development or in helping others. If you practice just sitting and clarify the great matter – the essential meaning – your understanding becomes unlimited in guiding others, even if you don’t know a single letter. That’s why the monk said, ‘Ultimately, what’s the use of that?’. Realizing he was right to the point, I stopped reading recorded sayings and other texts. I sat wholeheartedly and clarified the great matter. One day I [Ejo] asked, ‘What is the spirit of practicing in a monastery?’. Dogen said, ‘Just sit. Practice continuous sitting in a hall or pagoda. Don’t socialize, but sit like a deaf or a dumb person. Take joy in sitting harmoniously with yourself.’”
– Informal Talks of Dogen (Recorded by Ejo), Beyond Thinking
and
“…the true dharma emerges of itself.”
– Recommending Zazen to All People, Beyond Thinking
Instructions for practice are important. Specifically, I think, one’s intention when practicing is important. And Jain’s typically achieve this by reciting a Samayika-Path. But you have to actually do it. “Just sit.” And that’s more important than one’s initial conceptualization of their practice.