Hungry Ghost : ‘Sit-&-Share’ Meeting Leader Instructions & Some Example Topics for Contemplation www.5th-precept.org Hungry Ghost Sangha Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................ 5 Preamble by Vince Cullen .................................................................................................................................... 6 Foundations of a Buddhist Recovery .............................................................................................................. 7 A Sajja Path… A Simple Path ............................................................................................................................. 8 Sit-and-Share Meeting Formats ....................................................................................................................... 9 Example Sit-and-Share Meeting Format ..................................................................................................... 10 Mindful Movement Guidelines – Qigong ...................................................................................................... 13 Mindful Movement Guidelines – Zen Walking ........................................................................................... 14 Mindful Movement Guidelines – Walking Meditation .............................................................................. 14 Topic Guidelines .................................................................................................................................................... 15 Sajja/Sacca, Truth, Karma and Commitment ........................................................................................... 17 To Make a Vow........................................................................................................................................................ 17 Suffering is optional ................................................................................................................................................ 17 Refuge ..................................................................................................................................................................... 17 I Yearn to be Free of Pain ........................................................................................................................................ 17 We Make a Commitment ........................................................................................................................................ 18 When we Suffer ...................................................................................................................................................... 18 We must Dedicate Ourselves .................................................................................................................................. 18 Strength is Essential ................................................................................................................................................ 19 The Commitment to Compassion ........................................................................................................................... 19 We Seek Numbness ................................................................................................................................................ 19 It is Not easy to Find Happiness .............................................................................................................................. 19 This is the Truth of the Situation ............................................................................................................................. 20 The Truth of our Self Made Suffering ..................................................................................................................... 20 Only the Truth will Really Make us Happy .............................................................................................................. 20 Simplicity of Life ...................................................................................................................................................... 21 Four Transforming Contemplations : The Ineluctable Law of Karma ..................................................................... 21 Four Transforming Contemplations : The Defects and Shortcomings of Samsara ................................................. 22 The Five Precepts : Truthfulness ............................................................................................................................. 22 Truthfulness in Relationships .................................................................................................................................. 23 Truthfulness in Work ............................................................................................................................................... 23 Truthfulness Inside .................................................................................................................................................. 23 Generosity in thought, words and deeds .................................................................................................... 24 www.5th-Precept.org Page | 2 Hungry Ghost Sangha As If There is Nothing to Lose ................................................................................................................................. 24 The torment of withholding and fear ..................................................................................................................... 24 No one has ever become poor by giving................................................................................................................. 24 Ethics (All or individual Precepts or Harmlessness-Blamelessness) ................................................. 25 The Healing Power of the Precepts – part I ............................................................................................................ 25 The Healing Power of the Precepts – part II ........................................................................................................... 25 The Healing Power of the Precepts – part III .......................................................................................................... 26 The Five Precepts : # Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 26 The Five Precepts : (1) Non-harming ...................................................................................................................... 26 The Five Precepts : (2) Contentment and Generosity ............................................................................................. 27 The Five Precepts : (3) Respect and Self-restraint .................................................................................................. 27 The Five Precepts : (4) Truthfulness ........................................................................................................................ 27 The Five Precepts : (5) Clarity of Mind .................................................................................................................... 28 The Five Mindfulness Trainings by Thich Nhat Hanh : Introduction: ...................................................................... 28 The Five Mindfulness Trainings by Thich Nhat Hanh : (1) Reverence For Life ........................................................ 28 The Five Mindfulness Trainings by Thich Nhat Hanh : (2) True Happiness ............................................................. 29 The Five Mindfulness Trainings by Thich Nhat Hanh : (3) True Love ...................................................................... 29 The Five Mindfulness Trainings by Thich Nhat Hanh : (4) Loving Speech and Deep Listening ............................... 30 The Five Mindfulness Trainings by Thich Nhat Hanh : (5) Nourishment and Healing ............................................ 30 Loving-kindness, Compassion, Joy-gladness and Equanimity ............................................................ 31 Loving, being Loved and Loneliness… ..................................................................................................................... 31 Loving-kindness ....................................................................................................................................................... 31 Embrace the difficult and painful... ......................................................................................................................... 31 Compassion ............................................................................................................................................................. 32 Joy-Gladness ........................................................................................................................................................... 32 A place every day for a little rejoicing ..................................................................................................................... 32 If you feel anxious or unhappy ................................................................................................................................ 33 Peace requires us to surrender ..............................................................................................................................