Sisters and brothers in the community, this is the moment when we enjoy reciting the Five Mindfulness Trainings together. The Five Mindfulness Trainings represent the Buddhist vision for a global spirituality and ethic. They are a concrete expression of the Buddha’s teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, the path of right understanding and true love, leading to healing, transformation, and happiness for ourselves and for the world. To practice the Five Mindfulness Trainings is to cultivate the insight of interbeing, or Right View, which can remove all discrimination, intolerance, anger, fear, and despair. If we live according to the Five Mindfulness Trainings, we are already on the path of a bodhisattva. Knowing we are on that path, we are not lost in confusion about our life in the present or in fears about the future.

Reverence For Life

Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating the insight of interbeing and compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, or in my way of life. Seeing that harmful actions arise from anger, fear, greed, and intolerance, which in turn come from dualistic and discriminative thinking, I will cultivate openness, non-discrimination, and non-attachment to views in order to transform violence, fanaticism, and dogmatism in myself and in the world.

True Happiness

Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I am committed to practicing generosity in my thinking, speaking, and acting. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others; and I will share my time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need. I will practice looking deeply to see that the happiness and suffering of others are not separate from my own happiness and suffering; that true happiness is not possible without understanding and compassion; and that running after wealth, fame, power and sensual pleasures can bring much suffering and despair. I am aware that happiness depends on my mental attitude and not on external conditions, and that I can live happily in the present moment simply by remembering that I already have more than enough conditions to be happy. I am committed to practicing Right Livelihood so that I can help reduce the suffering of living beings on Earth and reverse the process of global warming.

True Love

Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I am committed to cultivating responsibility and learning ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families, and society. Knowing that sexual desire is not love, and that sexual activity motivated by craving always harms myself as well as others, I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without true love and a deep, long-term commitment made known to my family and friends. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct. Seeing that body and mind are one, I am committed to learning appropriate ways to take care of my sexual energy and cultivating loving kindness, compassion, joy and inclusiveness – which are the four basic elements of true love – for my greater happiness and the greater happiness of others. Practicing true love, we know that we will continue beautifully into the future.

Loving Speech and Deep Listening

Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I am committed to cultivating loving speech and compassionate listening in order to relieve suffering and to promote reconciliation and peace in myself and among other people, ethnic and religious groups, and nations. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I am committed to speaking truthfully using words that inspire confidence, joy, and hope. When anger is manifesting in me, I am determined not to speak. I will practice mindful breathing and walking in order to recognize and to look deeply into my anger. I know that the roots of anger can be found in my wrong perceptions and lack of understanding of the suffering in myself and in the other person. I will speak and listen in a way that can help myself and the other person to transform suffering and see the way out of difficult situations. I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to utter words that can cause division or discord. I will practice Right Diligence to nourish my capacity for understanding, love, joy, and inclusiveness, and gradually transform anger, violence, and fear that lie deep in my consciousness.

Nourishment and Healing

Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I am committed to cultivating good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking, and consuming. I will practice looking deeply into how I consume the Four Kinds of Nutriments, namely edible foods, sense impressions, volition, and consciousness. I am determined not to gamble, or to use alcohol, drugs, or any other products which contain toxins, such as certain websites, electronic games, TV programs, films, magazines, books, and conversations. I will practice coming back to the present moment to be in touch with the refreshing, healing and nourishing elements in me and around me, not letting regrets and sorrow drag me back into the past nor letting anxieties, fear, or craving pull me out of the present moment. I am determined not to try to cover up loneliness, anxiety, or other suffering by losing myself in consumption. I will contemplate interbeing and consume in a way that preserves peace, joy, and well-being in my body and consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family, my society and the Earth.

Comments (6)

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written by Peggy Lindquist , May 13, 2010

I agree that global climate change is an important issue, but there are others including the huge issue of polluting out planet's waters and the availability of clean water for humans, animals, and plants. I would prefer to end that training with "and protect the health of the Earth" or "reverse the damage to the planet. But these trainings are beautiful and provide so much room for practice. Many thanks.

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written by Thad Cimino , April 18, 2010

I am really happy to read the paragraph on nourisment and healing. This has been an issue for me for a long time. The seeds of consumption were in me since I was small and over time I gave them more and more nourishment. I hope to make this paragraph a daily reading and be more aware of the foods I put into my body, as I understand the effects that they have.
Thank you for the website and all of the great books. I am reading "Breath! You Are Alive" right know. I love the stories from The stone boy also! Have a great day or night whatever it may be where you are, Thad

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written by Hans d'Achard , December 28, 2009

Dear Thay, Dear Sangha,

Thank you for this new and fresh wording.

I very much appreciate that this text stays close to the former wording in order to help me remember, and that it adds a more explicit link to the 8th fold path.

What pleases me also is that the text to me is very actionable, a direct link to our actions.

Global warming is just one example of how our society misuses the house that we share. And I will read it as such.

I wish you all a happy new year, and many more to come

Hans

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written by Matthew Koogler , December 21, 2009

It is only poltiical in that many politicans have made it so--regardless of the degree of human's impact on the planet, what matters is that we do, don't you agree? Even the smallest litter or unmindful behavior negatively affects our environment. Global Warming can be seen as one of many measures of the planet's suffering. It is so important for us to be mindful of our environment! Global Warming means suffering for the planet!

Peace and love
Matthew Koogler

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written by Ghislaine Rabin , September 24, 2009

I have rewritten the 4th training in a way that gives me inspiration:

Notes from a ‘Bud-dist Farmer’ on the 4th Mindfulness Training –
Sept. 11th 2009:

Deep Listening and Loving Speech

Aware of the suffering caused by wrong perceptions,
I vow to cultivate the seeds of self-compassion, courage and equanimity,
so that I can grow clarity, joy and loving kindness within myself.

Aware of the suffering caused by the inability to listen to others,
I vow to nourish the seedlings of understanding through compassion, mindfulness and presence,
so that I can provide a safe, caring and nurturing environment for others.

Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech,
I vow to create authentic connections with others through deep listening and loving speech,
so that together with my family and community we can inspire transformation and growth,
and we can harvest the fruit of harmony, peace and true love.

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written by CHRIS TAYLOR , August 28, 2009

THE REFERENCE TO GLOBAL WARMING IN THE SECOND TRAINING FEELS LIKE A PIECE OF POLITICAL RHETORIC DRAGGED INTO A CONTEXT IN WHICH IT SHOULD HAVE NO PLACE. EFFECTIVELY THIS WORDING GIVES GLOBAL WARMING EQUAL STATUS WITH 'THE SUFFERING OF LIVING BEINGS ON EARTH' ; IS THIS REALLY WHAT WE BELIEVE ? (ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE INCONVENIENT TRUTH THAT GLOBAL WARMING SEEMS AT LEAST TO HAVE LEVELLED OFF SINCE THE LATE '90'S )

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