On Wednesday, July 6, facilitated by Cheri Maples, six SnowFlowers formally received the Five Mindfulness Trainings in the traditional Plum Village version of this ancient ceremony. The Five Mindfulness Trainings are an essential aspect of the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) who states they represent the “foundation of practice for the entire lay practice community.”1 They form the ethical component, which is present in every faith tradition. It is said that they support and protect the practitioner in his/her quest for a life of harmony, joy, and peace.
[1] Thich Nhat Hanh, Happiness: Essential Mindfulness Practices (2009) (quoted at http://plumvillage.org/mindfulness-practice/the-5-mindfulness-trainings/) (Last visited July 8, 2016.)