The Five Mindfulness Trainings
(according to Thich Nath Hanh, www.plumvillage.org)
-First Training-
Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to
cultivating 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 condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way
of life.
-Second Training-
Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing,
and oppression, I am committed to cultivate loving kindness and learn ways to
work for the well-being of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am
committed to practice generosity by sharing my time, energy, and material
resources with those who are 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.
-Third Training-
Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I am committed 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.
-Fourth Training-
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech
and the inability to listen to others, I am committed to cultivate loving
speech and deep listening in order to bring joy and happiness to others and
relieve others of their suffering. Knowing that words can create happiness or
suffering, I am committed 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
that can cause the family or the community to break. I will make all efforts to
reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.
-Fifth Training-
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful
consumption, I am committed to cultivate good health, both physical and mental,
for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking,
and consuming. I am committed 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 or 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 for the transformation of society.