[StPete-news] Mindfulness Practice on Wednesday

[stpete-updates at floridamindfulness.org]

Dear Friends,

Please join us Wednesday, June 18 at 7:15 p.m. for our mindfulness
practice at Yoga Moves studio, 1045 9th Avenue North, St. Petersburg.  Our
evening will include seated and walking meditation, followed by our
practice of mindful discussion – sharing from the heart and deep
listening.

This week we will be talking about the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings and
the Order of Interbeing.  Thich Nhat Hanh established the Order of
Interbeing during the Viet Nam war, to support the practice community in
its social service efforts.  Today there are more than 1,000 people in
this world-wide core community who have committed to help alleviate
suffering through their mindful living.

Several of our sangha members have recently expressed their aspiration to
accept the Fourteen Trainings and be part of the Order.  On Wednesday they
will share more about these trainings and their aspirations.

We hope you will join us.

Enjoy your breathing






The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings

The Order of Interbeing is guided by Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings.

1.	Aware of the suffering created by fanaticism and intolerance, we are
determined not to be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or
ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist teachings are guiding means to help
us learn to look deeply and to develop our understanding and compassion.
They are not doctrines to fight, kill, or die for.
2.	Aware of the suffering created by attachment to views and wrong
perceptions, we are determined to avoid being narrow-minded and bound to
present views. We shall learn and practice nonattachment from views in
order to be open to others' insights and experiences. We are aware that
the knowledge we presently possess is not changeless, absolute truth.
Truth is found in life, and we will observe life within and around us in
every moment, ready to learn throughout our lives.
3.	Aware of the suffering brought about when we impose our views on
others, we are committed not to force others, even our children, by any
means whatsoever — such as authority, threat, money, propaganda, or
indoctrination — to adopt our views. We will respect the right of others
to be different and to choose what to believe and how to decide. We will,
however, help others renounce fanaticism and narrowness through practicing
deeply and engaging in compassionate dialogue.
4.	Aware that looking deeply at the nature of suffering can help us
develop compassion and find ways out of suffering, we are determined not
to avoid or close our eyes before suffering. We are committed to finding
ways, including personal contact, images, and sounds, to be with those who
suffer, so we can understand their situation deeply and help them
transform their suffering into compassion, peace, and joy.
5.	Aware that true happiness is rooted in peace, solidity, freedom, and
compassion, and not in wealth or fame, we are determined not to take as
the aim of our life fame, profit, wealth, or sensual pleasure, nor to
accumulate wealth while millions are hungry and dying. We are committed to
living simply and sharing our time, energy, and material resources with
those in need. We will practice mindful consuming, not using alcohol,
drugs, or any other products that bring toxins into our own and the
collective body and consciousness.
6.	Aware that anger blocks communication and creates suffering, we are
determined to take care of the energy of anger when it arises and to
recognize and transform the seeds of anger that lie deep in our
consciousness. When anger comes up, we are determined not to do or say
anything, but to practice mindful breathing or mindful walking and
acknowledge, embrace, and look deeply into our anger. We will learn to
look with the eyes of compassion at ourselves and at those we think are
the cause of our anger.
7.	Aware that life is available only in the present moment and that it is
possible to live happily in the here and now, we are committed to training
ourselves to live deeply each moment of daily life. We will try not to
lose ourselves in dispersion or be carried away by regrets about the past,
worries about the future, or craving, anger, or jealousy in the present.
We will practice mindful breathing to come back to what is happening in
the present moment. We are determined to learn the art of mindful living
by touching the wondrous, refreshing, and healing elements that are inside
and around us, and by nourishing seeds of joy, peace, love, and
understanding in ourselves, thus facilitating the work of transformation
and healing in our consciousness.
8.	Aware that lack of communication always brings separation and
suffering, we are committed to training ourselves in the practice of
compassionate listening and loving speech. We will learn to listen deeply
without judging or reacting and refrain from uttering words that can
create discord or cause the community to break. We will make every effort
to keep communications open and to reconcile and resolve all conflicts,
however small.
9.	Aware that words can create suffering or happiness, we are committed to
learning to speak truthfully and constructively, using only words that
inspire hope and confidence. We are determined not to say untruthful
things for the sake of personal interest or to impress people, nor to
utter words that might cause division or hatred. We will not spread news
that we do not know to be certain nor criticize or condemn things of which
we are not sure. We will do our best to speak out about situations of
injustice, even when doing so may threaten our safety.
10.	Aware that the essence and aim of a Sangha is the practice of
understanding and compassion, we are determined not to use the Buddhist
community for personal gain or profit or transform our community into a
political instrument. A spiritual community should, however, take a clear
stand against oppression and injustice and should strive to change the
situation without engaging in partisan conflicts.
11.	Aware that great violence and injustice have been done to our
environment and society, we are committed not to live with a vocation that
is harmful to humans and nature. We will do our best to select a
livelihood that helps realize our ideal of understanding and compassion.
Aware of global economic, political and social realities, we will behave
responsibly as consumers and as citizens, not supporting companies that
deprive others of their chance to live.
12.	Aware that much suffering is caused by war and conflict, we are
determined to cultivate nonviolence, understanding, and compassion in our
daily lives, to promote peace education, mindful mediation, and
reconciliation within families, communities, nations, and in the world. We
are determined not to kill and not to let others kill. We will diligently
practice deep looking with our Sangha to discover better ways to protect
life and prevent war.
13.	Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice,
stealing, and oppression, we are committed to cultivating loving kindness
and learning ways to work for the well-being of people, animals, plants,
and minerals. We will practice generosity by sharing our time, energy, and
material resources with those who are in need. We are determined not to
steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others. We will
respect the property of others, but will try to prevent others from
profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other beings.
14.	(For lay members): Aware that sexual relations motivated by craving
cannot dissipate the feeling of loneliness but will create more suffering,
frustration, and isolation, we are determined not to engage in sexual
relations without mutual understanding, love, and a long-term commitment.
In sexual relations, we must be aware of future suffering that may be
caused. We know that to preserve the happiness of ourselves and others, we
must respect the rights and commitments of ourselves and others. We will
doeverything in our power to protect children from sexual abuse and to
protect couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct. We
will treat our bodies with respect and preserve our vital energies
(sexual, breath, spirit) for the realization of my bodhisattva ideal. We
will be fully aware of the responsibility for bringing new lives in the
world, and will meditate on the world into which we are bringing new
beings.