The Five Mindfulness trainings are our understanding of the Panchashila (Panchsheel) - the five precepts or the five pillars of a happy community. The Panchashila and Five Mindfulness trainings are universal truths and guidelines to manifest a happy community with happy individuals. These trainings are not created by Thich Nhat Hanh or Siddhartha Gautama Buddha. Instructions like do not kill, do not steal etc. have been there long before Gautama Buddha was born. In fact there were laws to prevent these from happening.
Unfortunately reading the Panchasila does not mean we have understood it and are keeping the precepts. For example, Buddha says do not steal. A child's understanding of this would not be the same as that of a taxman or a vegan activist. What is stealing? Is stealing from animals not breaking this precept? Is encouraging theft not breaking this precept?
Buddha taught - do not kill. Is it ok for Buddhist monks to order non-vegetarian food? Is it possible on the other hand for us to not inhale tiny microorganisms?
Buddha taught - do not consume alcohol. Does that mean we can't consume medicines that contain alcohol? Should we not use alcohol based fragrances? Since Buddha only said 'do not consume alcohol', is it ok to smoke?
Our practice of the five precepts largely depends on our understanding of phenomena. The Five Mindfulness trainings are more detailed descriptions, making it easier for us to understand and practice the precepts. If we carefully read and meditate on the Mindfulness trainings we get the answer to all these questions and any other that may arise in our minds.
We must approach these teachings keeping this in mind. Today, it is possible to practice veganism. Today we have alternatives to leather so it is not necessary to wear leather shoes. We have cashew and almond milk to replace cow milk. Vegetarian food is easily available. So to not kill is also to protect animals. It is to respect all forms of life. Respect is not to bow. We do not bow to ourselves but we respect ourselves. To respect is to not hurt others. You would not slap a Buddha, then why slap your wife? Is it possible for a monk to incite violence in Burma or Sri Lanka if he understands 'do not kill' as 'respect life'? We see things like monks and lay practitioners engaging in violence, politics, non-vegetarianism etc. because of their shallow understanding of the Panchashila and Pratimoksha.
It is not very important to study the scriptures if we have a Buddha teaching us. We learn from life more than we learn from scriptures. We have done enough if we can just practice the Five Mindfulness trainings. It is not necessary to become a monk or to chant mantras or to meditate for hours or to even be a Buddhist. A Muslim practicing the Five Mindfulness trainings is dearer to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas than one who has memorized all the sutras.
These precepts are based on our understanding that we cannot be happy if others are unhappy. By practicing these mindfulness trainings we are helping each other. We are promoting happiness. One who practices these mindfulness trainings does not hurt animals, does not exploit labor, does not exploit resources, does not evade taxes, does not hurt women, does not practice racism, does not cheat her/his partner, does not consume drugs or toxic substances, does not engage in lose talk or slanderous speech etc. It is wonderful to live with someone like this. You can rely on such a person. You know her love is true. You know her actions are not manipulative. You know that she is kind. We would like a bit of love and kindness. We want more people like this. Such a person is to be treasured. We want to be like this. So we practice the Five Mindfulness trainings.
#ThichNhatHanh #5Mindfulness #VijñaptimātraBuddhism #Interbeing
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