Monday, December 25, we will meet online.
Dear friends,
This week we will meet Monday from 7-8:30PM EST online, Wednesday morning from 7-8AM in person at our meditation space (3812 Northampton Street NW), and Friday 12-1PM EST in person.
Susie will facilitate on Monday evening, December 25.
Please join us as we read the Five Mindfulness Trainings together with a focus on the fifth mindfulness training - Nourishment and Healing.
We have a line item in our family budget for drinking. We don’t call it “drinking”, we call it “food & beverage”. In January of this year, I was sipping an expensive wine at a Georgetown restaurant with a large group of our best friends. Something hit me partway through the meal, something Godlike and undeniable. I had to close my eyes and be with this feeling. Something was telling me this was wrong for my body. I could hear my friends around me having a great time, and when they noticed my eyes were closed, I heard their questions to me, “Susie, are you ok?” “Is she ok? I don’t know.” etc. I held up my hand in a “wait” motion. I just needed to sit with this and hear what I needed to hear. After a couple of moments, I opened my eyes, and didn’t take another sip. I got sick later that evening and felt much better physically, but thought about all that money we just spent on the lovely food and the wine. Is there a line item for that?
It could have been that I was with our friend who just lost a daughter, and I realized what I am doing to change my perspective in such a way that blurs the lines between who I really am and who I am drowning in this intoxicant. What difficult feelings am I drowning? Sadness, fear, anger, rage, anxiety? What did she need that we couldn’t give her? What will I do in my short life to make better choices for my community, my body, myself?
What is the true cost of intoxicants?
Our budget vs. actual in the “food & beverage” line is significantly reduced, and I feel light and free. We went out recently with the same crowd of friends, and I ordered cooled green tea from the bartender.
We live in an era where we get to choose without as much social pressure. And I’ve gotten to an age where I know the choices are all mine. When I was younger, I would drink because I wanted to release my inhibitions, I wanted to be fun, and do the morning-after reminiscing “wow, I was so drunk last night.” Sounded so cool, and I got a pass for every “crazy” thing I did.
If my vision was blurry, I imagined that everyone else's vision was blurry, and I could make the excuse for whatever I did with a pad “well, I was drunk.” It’s good to know what it’s like, and it’s good to know when intoxicants aren’t my jam anymore. I make no judgment on others, and I am here for you if you can relate, and want to belly up to the bar with me and un-drown ourselves in some umbrella’d mocktails.
What choices around consumption have you made that were non-toxic? How can we help each other make those choices?
Will you join us on this meditative journey Monday evening as we breathe together? No pressure, no expectations, no shoulds — just breathing.
The Five Mindfulness Trainings
as translated by Thich Nhat Hanh
1 - 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.
2 - True Happiness
Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I am committed to practicing generosity in my thinking, speaking, and acting. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others; and I will share my time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need. I will practice looking deeply to see that the happiness and suffering of others are not separate from my own happiness and suffering; that true happiness is not possible without understanding and compassion; and that running after wealth, fame, power and sensual pleasures can bring much suffering and despair.
I am aware that happiness depends on my mental attitude and not on external conditions, and that I can live happily in the present moment simply by remembering that I already have more than enough conditions to be happy. I am committed to practicing Right Livelihood so that I can help reduce the suffering of living beings on Earth and reverse the process of global warming.
3 - True Love
Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I am committed to cultivating responsibility and learning ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families, and society. Knowing that sexual desire is not love, and that sexual activity motivated by craving always harms myself as well as others, I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without mutual consent, true love, and a deep, long-term commitment. I resolve to find spiritual support for the integrity of my relationship from family members, friends, and sangha with whom there is support and trust. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct. Seeing that body and mind are interrelated, I am committed to learning appropriate ways to take care of my sexual energy and to cultivating the four basic elements of true love – loving kindness, compassion, joy, and inclusiveness – for the greater happiness of myself and others. Recognizing the diversity of human experience, I am committed not to discriminate against any form of gender identity or sexual orientation. Practicing true love, we know that we will continue beautifully into the future.
4 - Loving Speech and Deep Listening
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I am committed to cultivating loving speech and compassionate listening in order to relieve suffering and to promote reconciliation and peace in myself and among other people, ethnic and religious groups, and nations. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I am committed to speaking truthfully using words that inspire confidence, joy, and hope.
When anger is manifesting in me, I am determined not to speak. I will practice mindful breathing and walking in order to recognize and to look deeply into my anger. I know that the roots of anger can be found in my wrong perceptions and lack of understanding of the suffering in myself and in the other person. I will speak and listen in a way that can help myself and the other person to transform suffering and see the way out of difficult situations. I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to utter words that can cause division or discord. I will practice Right Diligence to nourish my capacity for understanding, love, joy, and inclusiveness, and gradually transform anger, violence, and fear that lie deep in my consciousness.
5 - Nourishment and Healing
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I am committed to cultivating good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking, and consuming. I will practice looking deeply into how I consume the Four Kinds of Nutriments, namely edible foods, sense impressions, volition, and consciousness. I am determined not to gamble, or to use alcohol, drugs, or any other products which contain toxins, such as certain websites, electronic games, TV programs, films, magazines, books, and conversations.
I will practice coming back to the present moment to be in touch with the refreshing, healing and nourishing elements in me and around me, not letting regrets and sorrow drag me back into the past nor letting anxieties, fear, or craving pull me out of the present moment. I am determined not to try to cover up loneliness, anxiety, or other suffering by losing myself in consumption. I will contemplate interbeing and consume in a way that preserves peace, joy, and well-being in my body and consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family, my society and the Earth.