Steve:
TNH changed the name of precepts for Mindfulness Trainings as he considered
that the word “precepts” was inappropriate. He also up dated to current reality
days the precepts creating in that way the Five Mindfulness Trainings. They are
called in that way because they are a training. Later on, He also created
the 14 Mindfulness Trainings, which will be the same as the 5 but writing with
more extensive explanatory clue words. Nonetheless in practice the insight
contains are the same. I remembered at the time to mention this during a
retreat and everyone laughed in a nice way at my comment. At a later time and
to my surprise, I realiced that many people couldn't get the depths of the 5
Mindfulness Trainings but with the extension of the 14 they could get it
better. At a much later time also realiced that, on the other hand Receiving
the 14 Mindfulness trainings meant to get the official brown jacket lay robe
and becoming a formal
Member of the Interbeing Community which was created by TNH for lay people.
With the passing of time and the increasing numbers of people interested in TNH
dharma. The Interbeing community took a very important role. Adding in that way
a new clerical hierarchy.
I received only the first 5 Mindfulness Training with the official stamped
card from the tradition and the dharma name given by the Ven Master which I
hardly ever being used anywhere. I never had any interest of receiving the 14
Mindfulness Trainings.
To be honest with you, I don't read with much frequency the Five Mindfulness
Trainings at present. And when I used to read them I never recall reading them
with the pursue of achieving anything in me but as meanings of a bell reminder.
I founded them at the time very profound in a way that brought me awareness
about things I wasn't aware of. As a contrast to this while in the sangha or
the TNH flock didn't felt them in the same way but as a kind of catechism. That
gatherings of different people talking about their achievements or failures
reminded me very much so religion catechisms. It's pretty heavy going the
gathering with the subject of The Mindfulness Trainings.
Mayka
--- On Tue, 29/3/11, SteveW <[email protected]> wrote:
From: SteveW <[email protected]>
Subject: [Zen] An Opinion of Thich Nhat Hanh
To: [email protected]
Date: Tuesday, 29 March, 2011, 19:03
"If we don't practice the precepts, we aren't practicing mindfulness. I know
some Zen students who think that they can practice meditation without
practicing precepts, but that is not correct. The heart of Buddhist meditation
is the practice of the precepts. You cannot meditate without practicing the
precepts."
-from The Heart of The Buddha's Teaching, page 82
Any comments?
Steve
