Five Precepts To A Better Workday And Planet

11739392_sThese precepts are taken from a book, entitled The Present Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh.  These basic Buddhist tenets are useful to consider applying in the everyday workplace.

We look to the foundation of Buddhism to better understand our own propensity for unethical behavior and without guilt or judgment, take responsibility to make necessary corrections and become a better version of ourself.

FIRST PRECEPT: Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I vow to cultivate compassion and to learn 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 condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life.

SECOND PRECEPT: 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, animal, plants and minerals. I vow to practice generosity by sharing my time, energy, and material resources with those who are in real need. I am determined not to steal and not to possess 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 of Earth.

THIRD PRECEPT: Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I vow to cultivate responsibility and to 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 am determined to protect children from sexual abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual conduct.

FOURTH PRECEPT: Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful words and the inability to listen to others, I vow to cultivate loving speech and deep listening. 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 am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to criticize or condemn things of which I am not sure. I will refrain from uttering words that can cause diversion or discord or that can cause the family or the community to break. I will make all efforts to reconcile and resolve conflict, however small, and to speak in ways that bring joy and happiness to others and that relieve others of their suffering.

FIFTH PRECEPT: 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 others by observing a wholesome diet. I understand that a proper diet is crucial for self-transformation and for the transformation of society.

To get a corporate yoga onsite class started, please contact info@claytonyoga.com or 314-630-1677 today! Namaste.

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

A Yogini’s Guide to Happiness by Michelle Maue

6251969_sThis blogpost is an excerpt from a recent book published by St. Louis Corporate Yoga onsite wellness teacher, Michelle Maue. It describes the richness and joy that lies within each of us when we let go of the layers of our noisy ego mind and find our calm, inner peaceful spirit or our true, authentic self.

The buddha taught that we can end our suffering when we learn to let go of attachment.  When we do our job wholeheartedly with passion and joy, we bring whole peace and stay connected with spirit.  We enter into our hero journey, like a labyrinth, not quite sure where is the beginning and find ourself inspired by something much bigger than where we began.

Never stepping into the same river twice, we acknowledge our own everlasting and transcendent nature and assist one another in bringing back the good feeling vibes in our life.  There we can make choices based on bliss, joy and rapture rather than fear, control and ego.

Over reliance on rational thinking robs us our joy, delight and love of the mystery. Children, live in a constant state our wonderment and joy.  Having enchantment and delight begins with us.  Notice as an adult, how many layers of doubt keep us from our joy? Staying connected with this enchanting world requires faith.

More and more people are waking up to this 6th sense world, where we trust our intuition and feel a calling to live a life of passion and joy.  When we believe in ourself, and increase measures of faith, where there was none, we magnetize universal forces, which begin to conspire around us to bring those circumstances.  We must continue in our life, to just take the next step! It takes tremendous courage to live deeply, fully and risk standing out.

In each of us, there resides a goddess, a healer, a shaman. Enlightenment is a reversal of this kind of education as it calls into being the direct experience and validates the natural beauty for example of a flower, without any categorizing and labeling of any kind.  A Harvard research study actually found that the 90% of our thoughts is that they are both redundant and useless. The more we think we know, the bigger we need to guard those systems, the more energy is expended just trying to keep things in place.

Hard science waits and asks for repeated proof but how can you measure the changing river twice?  Over reliance on these systems, produces a power dynamic between hierarchical systems that in the end limit our worldview and choke our creativity. Empty your mind.

Learn to be your own best friend, find your inner gatekeeper and know that you are a lighthouse for many.  Energy goes where your attention flows.  The scent of the flower, it’s color, the texture, all perfect to its unfolding expression of beauty.  Scripture tells us “the flesh counts for nothing, it is the spirit which gives life”. Anything we put our intention upon, we can bring into our life.

If you have within you more positive feelings and connection to soul, you can enjoy the flow of energy and life force and leave behind the shadows and fears, revealing all happiness to be restored.

 

 

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos