January 2015

This is the Fourteenth of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing: Lay members may not be celibate whereas monastics members are and so there are two versions of this training. For lay members: Aware that sexual desire is not love and that sexual relations motivated by craving cannot dissipate the feeling of loneliness…

This is the Thirteenth of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing: Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, we are committed to cultivating generosity in our way of thinking, speaking, and acting. We will practice loving kindness by working for the happiness of people, animals, plants, and minerals,…

This is the Twelfth of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing: Aware that much suffering is caused by war and conflict, we are determined to cultivate nonviolence, compassion, and the insight of interbeing in our daily lives and promote peace education, mindful mediation, and reconciliation within families, communities, ethnic and religious groups,…

This is the Tenth of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing: Aware that the essence and aim of a Sangha is the realization of understanding and compassion, we are determined not to use the Buddhist community for personal power or profit, or transform our community into a political instrument. As members of a…

This is the Ninth of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing: Aware that words can create happiness or suffering, we are committed to learning to speak truthfully, lovingly and constructively. We will use only words that inspire joy, confidence and hope as well as promote reconciliation and peace in ourselves and among other…

This is the Eighth of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing: 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. Knowing that true community is rooted in inclusiveness and in the concrete practice of the harmony of…

This is the Seventh of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing: Aware that life is available only in the present moment, 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,…

This is the Sixth of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing: Aware that anger blocks communication and creates suffering, we are committed to taking care of the energy of anger when it arises, and to recognizing and transforming the seeds of anger that lie deep in our consciousness. When anger manifests, we are…

This is the Fifth of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing: Aware that true happiness is rooted in peace, solidity, freedom, and compassion, we are determined not to accumulate wealth while millions are hungry and dying nor to take as the aim of our life fame, power, wealth, or sensual pleasure, which can…

This is the Fourth of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing: Aware that looking deeply at the nature of suffering can help us develop understanding and compassion, we are determined to come home to ourselves, to recognize, accept, embrace and listen to suffering with the energy of mindfulness. We will do our best…

This is the Third of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing: Aware of the suffering brought about when we impose our views on others, we are determined not to force others, even our children, by any means whatsoever – such as authority, threat, money, propaganda, or indoctrination – to adopt our views. We…