Texts written in English
I vow not to gossip about others’ faults, but to be understanding and sympathetic. In general, we make things grow when we focus our attention on them. So if we decide to focus on mistakes, we will make them grow. For example, if we see that someone is noisy and complain about it, we will…
I vow not to misuse drugs or alcohol, but to keep the mind clear. Intoxicants can be very different. The most obvious are substances like alcohol or drugs. They are perhaps the most difficult to deal with because they can create a physical addiction and the body craves them. But other innocent substances like sugar…
I vow not to lie, but to speak the truth. What does it mean to lie? Technically, everything is a lie, because that’s how language works. Everything we say is a misunderstanding. We can never say exactly what we want to say, and it is always possible to find discrepancies.
I vow not to misuse sexual energy, but to be honest and respectful. On one hand, sex is beautiful and a nice thing to do with another person. On the other hand, it can be a strong distraction. It is a very strong instinct. Our bodies are programmed to reproduce, so sometimes it is enough…
I vow not to steal, but to respect that which belongs to others. It’s hard to answer this question without reflecting on what ownership is. What does it mean to own something? Owners have more rights to belongings than others. So stealing is a process of changing these rights. It is a very broad definition.…
I vow not to kill, but to cherish all life. Killing is always seen as the most fundamental violation in all ethical and religious systems. Life itself is usually the most ultimate goal of any spiritual process. Thus, protecting and supporting it are the most direct actions we can take.
Hi, I’m a rock I’m aware of your presence Hold me in your hands You have changed me I’m different now. I’m warmer. I’m not the same as before. But it’s still me I’m not afraid that you will destroy me. I can meet you and stay myself I still remember you My change is…
War doesn’t happen only on the battlefield, but in ours minds and hearts. We are pushed to become more radical, violent or indifferent. How to stop the anxiety spreading? How to secure victims against the violence? My first step is to calm down my own mind. Thus, I gain more clarity in what needs to…
After 2 years, we took and counted a million mindful breaths with the intention to make the world a more peaceful place. We started this practice as a response to the anxiety rise in the beginning of COVID pandemic. The idea is simple. We breathe to calm our own minds. Thanks to this, each person…
How should the spiritual community respond to climate change? What would be “an appropriate response”? It’s easy to get worried. We expect that our children will live in more difficult conditions. Scarcity of resources will lead to wars and raise the worst of instincts. If we don’t introduce a significant change, we will trigger a…