Dear Friends,
Please join us on Nov 10 from 5-6:30 pm at the Albuquerque Zen Center to recite the wonderful 5 Mindfulness Trainings. These are our good friends on the path.
Two thousand six hundred years ago, the Buddha offerred certain guidelines to his lay students to help them live peaceful, wholesome and happy lives. They are the 5 Wonderful Mindfulness Trainings. With mindfulness as our foundation, we can become aware of what is going on in our bodies, our feelings, our minds, and in the world.
Mindfulness protects us, our families, and our society, and helps us avoid doing harm to ourselves and others. In Buddhism, the trainings, concentration, and insight always go together. It is impossible to speak of one without the other two. This is called the Threefold Training – sila, the practice of the trainings; samadhi, the practice of concentration; and prajna, the practice of insight. The trainings, concentration, and insight “inter-are.” Practicing the trainings brings about concentration, and concentration is needed for insight. Insight is the fruit of looking deeply. We can see that by refraining from doing “this,” we prevent “that” from happening. Practicing together as a Sangha is nourishing as we support each other on the path of liberation. We are asked to share our experiences of the practice so that our perceptions will grow closer to reality and our actions will become more harmonious.
The 1st training is to protect life, to decrease violence in oneself, in the family, and in society. The 2nd training is to practice social justice, generosity, not stealing and not exploiting other living beings. The 3rd is to practice responsible sexual behavior. The 4th is to practice deep listening and compassionate speech. The 5th training is about mindful consumption.
Do not follow low practices. Lift yourself up. Be attentive.
Do not live carelessly. Act virtuously.
Do not hold wrong views. One who does good deeds lives happily.
Do not prolong the suffering of the world. Both in this life & the life to come.
–The Dhammapada, translated by the Venerable Ananda Maitreya
In the Plum Village tradition, the teachings are given freely. We invite you to practice Dana, or generosity by offering a donation. Dana is not necessarily a monetary offering-it can be any gift or gesture from your heart. Your generosity supports the Sangha and your own practice.
We hope you will be able to join us Sunday afternoon from 5-6:30 pm
at the Albuquerque Zen Center, 2300 Garfield Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106.
Paz,
Jose
Quiet Mind Sangha Albuquerque 