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THE FIVE MINDFULNESS TRAININGS
(Awakening Heart version)
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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1. The First Mindfulness 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.
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2. The Second Mindfulness 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.
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3. The Third Mindfulness Training (AH version):
Aware of the suffering caused by sexual irresponsibility, 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 mutual
understanding, care, respect, and a loving commitment to the
long-term wellbeing of ourselves and others. 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 irresponsibility.
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4. The Fourth Mindfulness 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.
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5. The Fifth Mindfulness Training (AH version):
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 any intoxicants 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.
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