The Five Mindfulness Trainings Introduction

A short talk to introduce the Five Mindfulness Trainings, which are Thich Nhat Hanh's updated version of the Five Precepts.

Transcript

And this is a short introduction into the five mindfulness trainings rather than a meditation you may choose to close your eyes when I recite the trainings later let's start by enjoying three sounds of the bell listen listen this wonderful sound brings me back to my true self if you're not familiar with the five mindfulness trainings they're based on the original five precepts established by the Buddha around two and a half thousand years ago and although the wording might be slightly different the precepts in all traditions are essentially identical and our commitments to abstain from harming living beings,

Stealing,

Sexual misconduct,

Lying and intoxication Thich Nhat Hanh has translated and updated the precepts to reflect the world we live in today and these are known as the five mindfulness trainings which were last updated by Thay in 2009 when you first encounter them the five mindfulness trainings can look like rules or commandments but they're not they're an invitation for us to move in a direction of living I continue to reflect on them and learn about them every day and they've become an essential part of my practice and for me an essential set of ethics to guide me each training are ideas to work towards and to come back to time and time again I think it is very important to remember some of the key words,

The fact that they are trainings and learning ways too that is we're not expected to practice them perfectly all the time,

No one can do this we're invited to find our own way but we can also interpret the trainings as a sangha we can continue to learn from the trainings each time we return to them that's even if we've been practicing 20 years or 20 days every time we return to them they can offer us a fresh insight and new opportunities throughout our life our understanding of what they mean to us can deepen what was clear a few months or years ago becomes clearer or has new meaning we all make mistakes,

We can all be guilty of forgetfulness or mindlessness the gift of the five trainings is that we can always return to them Thay says the five mindfulness trainings are one of the most concrete ways to practice mindfulness they are non-sectarian and their nature is universal they are true practices of compassion and understanding all spiritual traditions have their equivalent to the five mindfulness trainings the five mindfulness trainings represent the Buddhist vision for a global spirituality and ethic they are a concrete expression of the Buddhist teaching 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 just in confusion about our life in the present or in fears about the future the first 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 the second mindfulness training true happiness aware of the suffering caused by exploitation,

Social injustice,

Stealing and oppression I am committed to practising generosity in my thinking,

Speech and words I am committed to practising 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 practise 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 practising right livelihood so that I can help reduce the suffering of living beings on earth and reverse the process of global warming The third mindfulness training 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 Practising true love,

We know that we will continue beautifully into the future The fourth mindfulness training 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 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 practise mindful breathing and walking in order to recognise 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 diversion or discord I will practise 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 The fifth mindfulness training,

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 practising mindful eating,

Drinking and consuming I will practise looking deeply into how I consume the four kinds of nutriments,

Namely edible foods,

Sense impression,

Violation 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 programmes,

Films,

Magazines,

Books and conversations I will practise 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 pour 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 into being and consume in a way that preserves peace,

Joy and wellbeing in my body and consciousness and in the collective body and consciousness of my family,

My society and the earth I will contemplate into being and consume in a way that preserves peace,

Joy and wellbeing in my body and consciousness and in the collective body and consciousness of my family,

My society and the earth Thank you for watching!

Reviews

After a personal introduction, this meditation contains the five mindfulness trainings as written by Thich Nhat Hanh. This is a good daily practice.

I was looking for a way to practice the 5 trainings and integrate them into my daily life. You read them very gently and mindfully. Thank you very much for sharing! Meta

Thank you
For some reason not very loud

Thank you Peter! Very inspiring and calming. I must listen again, and especially practice.

Great pace, wonderful direction - a lifetime of practice...! Great stuff !

This was extremely beneficial but I wish it was louder. It qas very difficult for me to hear

Very useful reminders.

Been suffering with side effects of menopause and this contemporary update of the 5 precincts was especially poingant and helpful.

Thank you. This was perfect. Great length and opportunity for personal reflection.

Thanks for rhe reminder

Very good. Thank you.

Very helpful to have this recording. Thank you, Peter!!!

Helpful and interesting. Thank you.

A blueprint on how to live.

Awesome teaching

A very useful meditation of The Five Precepts. As offered here, one can find rich material for deeper contemplation of each of the precepts. Thank you!

Thank you that was great