[Dws-News] This Week at the Lotus Room

[dws-updates at floridamindfulness.org]

Dear Friends,

Please join us this Thursday at 7:00 pm at the Lotus Room for meditation
and dharma discussion. This Thursday we will follow our normal meditation
with a guided meditation and a recitation of The Five Mindfulness
Trainings.  Please see below for the text of the trainings.

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday.

With metta,

Wes

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The First 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.

The Second 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.

The Third 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.

The Fourth 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.

The Fifth 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 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.