(The Five Wonderful Mindfulness Trainings below are
Zen Master Thich Nhat's Hanh's
translation of the 5 basic precepts as taught by the Buddha Shakyamuni.
The Buddha
offered these precepts to both his ordained and lay followers so that
they could have
clear guidelines to lead mindful and joyful lives on the path to
awakening. Thich Nhat
Hanh has updated the precepts so that they are beautifully appropriate
and relevant in
today's society. In his book entitled "For a Future to be Possible",
Thich Nhat Hanh
describes in detail how the Five Wonderful Mindfulness Trainings can be
used by anyone
in today's world to create a more harmonious and peaceful life.)
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.
Thich Nhat Hanh has a commentary
on the 1st Precept.
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 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.
Thich Nhat Hanh has a commentary
on the 2nd Precept.
The Third Mindfulness Training:
Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, 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
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.
Thich Nhat Hanh has a commentary
on the 3rd Precept.
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 their 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 that can cause the family
or community to break.
I will make all efforts to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however
small.
Thich Nhat Hanh has a commentary
on the 4th Precept.
The Fifth Mindfulness Training:
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 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.
Thich Nhat Hanh has a commentary
on the 5th Precept.
(Excerpted from "For a Future to Be Possible:
Commentaries on the Five Wonderful Precepts"
(1993) by Thich Nhat Hanh, with permission of Parallax
Press, Berkeley, California.)
Last updated January 21st, 2004.