Monday, May 18, we will meet in person.
Go to calendar for our schedule
Address for OHMC meditation space:
3812 Northampton St. NW, Washington DC 20015
Please arrive a few minutes early so we can invite the bell on time. You may also arrive 15 minutes early to practice working meditation by helping us set up cushions.
Dear friends,
This week, we will meet Monday evening, May 18, from 7-8:30PM ET in person at our meditation space (3812 Northampton Street NW); Wednesday morning, May 20, from 7-8AM ET online; and Friday, May 22, 12-1PM ET online/in person (Hybrid).
On Monday, our evening meditation will be facilitated by Ellen. Ellen shares:
Greetings. This Monday we’ll read and discuss the Fifth Mindfulness Training: Nourishment and Healing. (Full text below)
I have often found this particular training to be so full, so deep, and honestly, so overwhelming. There’s so much spirit, wisdom, and guidance here that it’s hard for me to know where to begin with trying to actualize this for my daily living. That’s a good problem to have!
Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay)’s focus here is on consumption: what we consume and how, taking great care to avoid harmful things; about not letting ourselves be consumed by the negative seeds of regret and sorrow; and how we must not consume to avoid our pain. All profound teachings.
To me, this deep teaching is about awakening to the habits of mindless consumption I’ve often had and the ways my mindfulness practice helps me recognize and transform those. It’s about being aware of and compassionate toward my consumption patterns. I can learn how to change them into habits that “cultivate” (to borrow from the 5th training) good overall health and balance.
To help us understand and appreciate this teaching more, on Monday evening, we will enjoy a short video from Plum Village, featuring Thay speaking about this training:
https://youtu.be/kjJzYwDEUjw?si=oJRdbS726YAt7fBh
"Mindful Consumption | Thich Nhat Hanh (short teaching video)" on YouTube
What helps you understand your own consumption patterns and become more healthy and self-caring? What are healthy ways of consuming food and other products that you practice and would like to share? What else speaks to you from this teaching?
I look forward to our time together in person on Monday.
Warmly,
Ellen
The Fifth Mindfulness Training: 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.