For a Future to Be Possible: Buddhist Ethics for Everyday Life » (Revised)

The Five Mindfulness Trainings — to not kill, steal, commit adultery, lie, or take intoxicants — are the basic statement of ethics and morality in Buddhism. In this fully revised edition, Zen master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh argues eloquently for their universal applicability in daily situations. Nhat Hanh discusses in depth the value and meaning of each precept, offering insights into the roles that they could play in our changing society. In a world marked by moral and spiritual emptiness, he says, The Five Mindfulness Trainings offer a path to the restoration of meaning and value. The author calls the trainings a “diet for a mindful society” that transcends sectarian boundaries, and he presents simple yet powerful ways that people can come together around them to explore and sustain a sane, compassionate, and healthy way of living.

Foreword: The Road Is Your Footsteps   Joan Halifax     vii
Introduction
The Five Mindfulness Trainings     5
First Mindfulness Training: Reverence for Life     8
Second Mindfulness Training: Generosity     15
Third Mindfulness Training: Sexual Responsibility     25
Fourth Mindfulness Training: Deep Listening and Loving Speech     40
Fifth Mindfulness Training: Diet for a Mindful Society     57
The Three Jewels     70
Afterword: Happiness Comes from the Heart   Jack Kornfield     105
Frequently Asked Questions   Sr. Chan Khong
The Five Mindfulness Trainings Ceremonies     116
Transmission of the Five Mindfulness Trainings     116
Recitation of the Five Mindfulness Trainings     134