Introduction

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.

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(3 breaths to settle your body, Invite one BELL,  allow 3 additional breaths before the bell minder “stops” the bell by holding the inviter gently against the bell. The reader continues with the next mindfulness training)

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.

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This is the first of the Five Mindfulness Trainings.  Have you made an effort to study and practice it over the last month? (3 breaths) (BELL)

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 stop contributing to climate change.

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This is the second of the Five Mindfulness Trainings.  Have you made an effort to study and practice it over the last month? (3 breaths) (BELL)

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 mutual consent,

true love, and a deep, long-term commitment. I resolve to find spiritual support for the integrity of

my relationship from family members, friends, and sangha with whom there is support and trust. 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 interrelated, I am

committed to learn appropriate ways to take care of my sexual energy and to cultivate the four

basic elements of true love – loving kindness, compassion, joy, and inclusiveness – for the greater

happiness of myself and others. Recognizing the diversity of human experience, I am committed

not to discriminate against any form of gender identity or sexual orientation. Practicing true love,

we know that we will continue beautifully into the future.

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This is the third of the Five Mindfulness Trainings.  Have you made an effort to study and practice it over the last month? (3 breaths) (BELL)

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Loving Speech and Deep Listening

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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.

This is the fourth of the Five Mindfulness Trainings.  Have you made an effort to study and practice it over the last month? (3 breaths) (BELL)

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.

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This is the fifth of the Five Mindfulness Trainings.  Have you made an effort to study and practice it over the last month? (3 breaths) (BELL)

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Siblings, we have recited the Five Mindfulness Trainings, the foundation of happiness for the individual, the family, and society.  We should recite them regularly so that our study and practice of the mindfulness trainings can deepen day by day. (3 BELLS)

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