On Monday, after our sitting and walking meditations, we will read the Five Mindfulness Trainings (see below for the First Mindfulness Training) and after the reading, we will explore the First Mindfulness training, Reverence for Life.
Last week, Andy facilitated a discussion on Resistance and Buddhism, and he invited people to share their feelings about their practice as it relates to war, suffering and freedom. As I reflected on this topic, I thought of the first mindfulness training – specifically – that line that reads: “I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, or in my way of life.”
To what extent do I kill with my thoughts?
I admit that this question caused me some trepidation.
As I reflected on the ways that I kill with my thoughts (there are several to choose from), and of the effect of “wrong thinking” (not to be judgemental!), I became aware of that inner critic that was judging (and sentencing) me for having these thoughts – even for recognizing them. How fascinating, yet another way to kill!
Thich Nhat Hanh teaches that the antidote to violence and hatred – for a country, a group or oneself – is compassion.
“There is no other medicine. Unfortunately, compassion is not available in drugstores. You have to generate the nectar of compassion in your heart... If we are too busy, if we are carried away every day by our projects, our uncertainty, our craving, how can we have the time to stop and look deeply into the situation—our own situation, the situation of our beloved one, the situation of our family and of our community, and the situation of our nation and of the other nations? Looking deeply, we find out that not only do we suffer but also the other person suffers deeply. Not only our group suffers but the other group also suffers. Once awareness is born, we know that punishment, violence and war are not the answer.”
I was also aware of a deep yearning for peace: internal and external. And a wondering: how could there be one without the other?
Again, Thay speaks to this :
"We often think of peace as the absence of war; that if the powerful countries would reduce their arsenals, we could have peace. But if we look deeply into the weapons, we see our own minds - our prejudices, fears, and ignorance. Even if we transported all the bombs to the moon, the roots of war and the reasons for bombs would still be here, in our hearts and minds, and sooner or later we would make new bombs. Seek to become more aware of what causes anger and separation, and what overcomes them."
On Monday, we will explore the First Mindfulness Training, Reverence for Life. In preparation, I invite you to reflect on your practice with this Training and specifically, on the nature of your thoughts. To what extent do you “kill” with your thoughts? To what extent are your thoughts dualistic or discriminative? When this happens, what do you do?
I hope you will join us.
First Mindfulness Training: Reverence for Life
Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating the insight of interbeing and compassion and learning 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 support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, or in my way of life. Seeing that harmful actions arise from anger, fear, greed, and intolerance, which in turn come from dualistic and discriminative thinking, I will cultivate openness, non-discrimination, and non- attachment to views in order to transform violence, fanaticism, and dogmatism in myself and in the world.
Read the Five Mindfulness Trainings here.