The Five Mindfulness Trainings
I've been dipping in and out of the study of Buddhism as a philosophy of life for a few months now. It just fascinates me for its simplicity and timeless relevance. At the moment I'm reading "The Art of Power" by Buddhist monk and Nobel nominee Thich Nhat Hanh.
I'll share one of the concepts of the book that really stopped me in my tracks, as it is incredibly relevant to us, sustainability practitioners: the Five Mindfulness Trainings.
The following explanation is from plumvillage.org
- The first training is to protect life, to decrease violence in oneself, in the family and in society.
- The second training is to practice social justice, generosity, not stealing and not exploiting other living beings.
- The third is the practice of responsible sexual behaviour in order to protect individuals, couples, families and children.
- The fourth is the practice of deep listening and loving speech to restore communication and reconcile.
- The fifth is about mindful consumption, to help us not bring toxins and poisons into our body or mind.
No one can practise all of these perfectly all the time, but for a moment, imagine if you and I committed to protecting every form of life including animals, plants and other human beings; if you and I decided to defend the dignity of human beings and social justice at every opportunity; if we focused on long-lasting love and on listening deeply to those around us, and on avoiding to use our words as weapons; if we stopped mindlessly consuming: food, clothes, social media, news...
What would happen to the world around us?
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