Basic Trainings Suggested by the Buddha
- I will do my best to cultivate and abide in the wholesome attitudes of lovingkindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity.
- I will do my best to cultivate wise, balanced effort to clearly recognize skillful and unskillful intentions and develop and maintain wholesome intentions, and abandon and prevent unwholesome intentions from getting established.
- Through study, reflection, and meditation, I commit to better understanding and training in the Eightfold Path of awakening and the Four Foundations of Mindfulness.
- I take refuge in a steady, balanced, mindful awareness, opening to the way things actually are and supporting a skillful response to what is here and now.
- I give myself to the practice of dana: freely giving and receiving. I will do my best to recognize and appreciate what is good and beautiful in and around me and allow it to be a cause for joy. I also commit to being curious about the joy of renunciation. I will support the health and continuation of this retreat center by committing to these trainings and guidelines so they can support my life and the lives of others as well.
The Precepts (Mindfulness Trainings)
These mindfulness trainings have been traditionally observed by laypeople when visiting monasteries and during periods of intensive retreat practice. These trainings in non-harming and renunciation support the arising of mental balance, steadiness, and clarity, leading onwards to liberating insight.
- I undertake the training to refrain from harming living beings.
- I undertake the training to refrain from taking that which is not given.
- I undertake the training to refrain from sexual activity.
- I undertake the training to refrain from incorrect speech.
- The Buddha defines right speech as refraining from lying, slander, harsh words, and idle words. On retreat, we define it as refraining from unnecessary speech. This practice is often called "Noble Silence" in our tradition. You can read more about this powerful practice here.
5. I undertake the training to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.
- This includes micro or macro dosing with plant medicines and other hallucinogens.