THE FIVE WONDERFUL PRECEPTS
Adapted from the Writings of Thich
Nhat Hanh

by
Marni Harmony

1. Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I vow to cultivate compassion and learn ways to protect the lives of people, animals, and plants. I will not kill, not to let others kill, and will not condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking and in my way of life. I will involve myself in actions that protect and support life.

2. Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I vow to cultivate loving kindness and learn ways to work for the well-being of people, animals and plants. I vow to live simply and practice generosity by sharing my time, energy and material resources with those who are in real need. I will not steal or posses anything that should belong to others. I will respect the property of others, and I will prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth. I will not lose awareness of the existence of suffering in the world.

Aware of the suffering caused by attachment, I will seek not to be bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology. I will regard systems of thought as guiding means rather than absolute truth. I will try to be open to receive other's views and be always ready to learn.

Aware of the suffering caused by negative states of mind, I will maintain neither anger nor hatred. As soon as anger or hatred arise, I will practice meditation on compassion in order to deeply understand the persons who have caused anger or hatred. I will learn to look at other beings with the eyes of compassion. I will practice breathing consciously in order to achieve composure of body and mind and to develop concentration and deepened understanding.

3. Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I vow to cultivate responsibility and learn ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families, and society. I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without love and a long-term commitment. To preserve the happiness of myself and others, I will respect my commitments and the commitments of others. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to protect couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct.

4. Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability of people to listen to others, I vow to cultivate loving speech and deep listening in order to bring joy and happiness to others and to relieve others of their suffering. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I vow to learn to speak truthfully, with words that inspire self-confidence, joy, and hope. I will not spread news that I do not know to be certain or criticize or condemn things of which I am not sure. I will refrain from uttering words that can cause division or discord, or that can cause the family or the community to break. I will make all efforts to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.

5. Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I vow to cultivate good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking, and consuming. I vow to ingest only items that preserve peace, well-being, and joy in my body, in my consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family and society. I am determined not to use alcohol or any other intoxicant or to ingest foods or other items that contain toxins, such as certain TV programs, magazines, books, films, and conversations. I am aware that to damage my body or my consciousness with these poisons is to betray my ancestors, my parents, my society, and future generations. I will work to transform violence, fear, anger, and confusion in myself and in society by my practice.

(Marni Politte Harmony serves as minister of the First Unitarian Church of Orlando, Florida. A long time student of Buddhism and spiritual practice, she took the five Buddhist precepts from Thich Nhat Hanh in 1989.)