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Five Mindfulness Trainings
The Five Mindfulness Trainings were developed during the time of the
Buddha to be the foundation of practice for the entire practice
community, including monastic and lay members. The basis for the
trainings is mindfulness.
The Five Mindfulness Trainings protect our freedom and make life
beautiful. As guidelines for our daily lives they are the basis of
happiness for individuals, couples, families and society.
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The First Training:
Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction
of life, I vow to cultivate compassion and learn 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 condone any act of killing in
the world, in my thinking and in my way of life.
The Second Training:
Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation,
social injustice, stealing and oppression, I vow to cultivate loving
kindness and learn ways to work for the well-being of people, animals,
plants and minerals. I vow to practice generosity by sharing my time,
energy, and material resources with those in real need. I am
determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong
to others. I will respect the property of others, but I will prevent
others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other
species on earth.
The Third Training:
Aware of the suffering caused by sexual
misconduct, I vow to cultivate responsibility and learn ways to
protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families and
society. I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without
love and a long-term commitment. To preserve the happiness of myself
and others, I am determined to respect my commitments and the
commitments of others. 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.
The Fourth Training:
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech
and the inability to listen to others, I vow to cultivate loving
speech and deep listening in order to bring joy and happiness to
others and relieve others of suffering. Knowing that words can create
happiness or suffering, I vow to learn to speak truthfully, with words
that inspire self-confidence, joy and hope. I am determined not to
spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to criticize or
condemn things of which I am not sure. I will refrain from uttering
words that can cause division or discord; or words that can cause the
family or the community to break. I will make all efforts to reconcile
and resolve all conflicts, however small.
The Fifth Training:
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful
consumption, I vow to cultivate good health, both physical and mental,
for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating,
drinking and consuming. I vow to ingest only items that preserve
peace, well being, and joy in my body, in my consciousness, and in the
collective body and consciousness of my family and society. I am
determined not to use alcohol or any other intoxicant or to ingest
foods or other items that contain toxins, such as certain TV programs,
magazines, books, films and conversations. I am aware that to damage
my body and my consciousness with these poisons is to betray my
ancestors, my parents, my society and future generations. I will work
to transform violence, fear, anger and confusion in myself and in
society by practicing a diet for myself and for society. I understand
that a proper diet is crucial for self transformation and the
transformation of society.