Mindful Nourishment, Healing, and Wellbeing

The elk didn't mind us meditating nearby one bit

Here are some contemplations surrounding mindful nourishment, healing, and wellbeing to help inspire us on a path of healing, transformation, and happiness for ourselves and the world inspired by the monastics from Plum Village Deer Park whom I recently practiced meditation with at the YMCA Estes Park in Colorado, USA.

The Five Mindfulness Trainings Overview

I learned mindfulness can be practiced anywhere and anytime

One aspect of the plum village deer park meditation retreat I attended was reciting, practicing, and meditating on the Five Mindfulness Trainings. These trainings (or sutras or precepts) represent the Buddhist vision for a global spirituality and ethic. They are a concrete expression of the Buddha’s teachings and are meant to help us on the path of right understanding and true love, leading to healing, transformation, and happiness for ourselves and the world. When I read these trainings I felt like, “YES! THIS!”. The trainings put more concrete and succinct words and concepts to ways I’ve been trying to live most of my life. I am excited and committed to practicing these trainings with an online sangha (community) once per month and am slowly digesting them and seeing where I feel called to make adjustments in my life. I am attempting to share and practice each training here on my web home in case others are looking for thoughts and inspiration in this vain. I have separated each sentence out and highlighted key components. I’ve also added my two cents here and there in parentheses, because it helps it land better for me personally and perhaps it will for you too.

Fifth Mindfulness Training (Practice): Nourishment and Healing

We meditating together several times per day on retreat

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 (using one’s will), and consciousness.

I am determined not to (consume toxins), gamble, or to (over) use alcohol, drugs, or any other products which contain toxins, such as certain websites, electronic games, TV programs, films, magazines, books, and conversations (as these will cultivate more toxins and toxic behavior in me and those I interact with).

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 (of any kind).

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.

Bonus Meditation Audio Resources

Bonus! At the end of each training post I am sharing a resource or tidbit that has helped me with my meditation practice. The following are apps and music that have helped me greatly in keeping up with my practice.

1. Plum Village App. This app has a bunch of guided meditation and deep relaxation practices, songs, and more. I have been using this regularly since I’ve returned from this retreat.

2. Insight Timer. A popular, free app with tons of free sleep, anxiety, and stress. Highly recommended by some of my favorite teachers.

3. Sonic Yogi. Has great music that is meant to help with anxiety and stress. I play it in my earbuds while I practice silent meditation.

4. Tryshe Dhevney. I’ve really appreciated his music as well with my silent meditation practice.

Thanks for reading. I hope this inspires you in one way or another.

Photos from Earth, Our True Nature Retreat at Estes Park YMCA August 2024, https://deerparkmonastery.org/photo/earth-our-true-nature-retreat-photo-gallery/ur