The Mindfulness Trainings
These five mindfulness trainings or precepts are guidelines for living a mindful life of love, kindness, and compassion as taught by Zen master Thich Nhat Hahn.
1. Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I vow not to kill or support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, or in my way of living. I am committed to cultivating compassion and nonaggression and learning ways to protect the lives of all living beings.
2. Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I vow to practice generosity in my ways of thinking, speaking, and acting. I am determined not to steal or possess anything that is not offered. I will do my best to respect the property of others. I will do everything in my power to prevent others from profiting from the suffering of other living beings.
3. Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I vow to cultivate responsibility for my own sexual energy. Aware of what harms myself and others, I vow to respect my commitments and the commitments of others and to cultivate true love, whose elements consist of loving kindness, compassion, joy, and inclusiveness. I vow to serve and protect all living beings to the best of my ability.
4. Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I vow to cultivate loving speech and compassionate listening in order to bring joy and happiness to others and help relieve their suffering. I vow to always speak truthfully with words that inspire confidence, joy, and hope. I will not gossip, slander, or use words that cause division or hatred. I will use my speech mindfully in order to foster communication and understanding.
5. Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I vow to cultivate good health, both physical and mental, by practicing mindful eating, drinking, and consuming. I will practice looking deeply in my own heart and mind in order to transform anger, violence, fear, and confusion in myself and my society. I understand that a proper diet is essential for self transformation and for the transformation of society.
1. Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I vow not to kill or support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, or in my way of living. I am committed to cultivating compassion and nonaggression and learning ways to protect the lives of all living beings.
2. Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I vow to practice generosity in my ways of thinking, speaking, and acting. I am determined not to steal or possess anything that is not offered. I will do my best to respect the property of others. I will do everything in my power to prevent others from profiting from the suffering of other living beings.
3. Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I vow to cultivate responsibility for my own sexual energy. Aware of what harms myself and others, I vow to respect my commitments and the commitments of others and to cultivate true love, whose elements consist of loving kindness, compassion, joy, and inclusiveness. I vow to serve and protect all living beings to the best of my ability.
4. Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I vow to cultivate loving speech and compassionate listening in order to bring joy and happiness to others and help relieve their suffering. I vow to always speak truthfully with words that inspire confidence, joy, and hope. I will not gossip, slander, or use words that cause division or hatred. I will use my speech mindfully in order to foster communication and understanding.
5. Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I vow to cultivate good health, both physical and mental, by practicing mindful eating, drinking, and consuming. I will practice looking deeply in my own heart and mind in order to transform anger, violence, fear, and confusion in myself and my society. I understand that a proper diet is essential for self transformation and for the transformation of society.
