The Mindful Minute - Day 18 Of 30: The Five Remembrances

Hello and welcome to day 18 of the mindful minute.

This is Laura.

Today I'd like to introduce the five remembrances to you.

This is a translation by Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh,

And these five remembrances are Buddhist teaching about accepting reality,

And we can use these five remembrances to meditate daily about our life,

And hopefully decrease fear and promote our ability to let go.

Go ahead and find a comfortable seat or lie down if you choose,

Allow your gaze to soften.

And I'm going to read these five remembrances to you as you just focus on your inhale and exhale and listen to the words.

So the first remembrance is,

I am of the nature to grow old.

There is no way to escape growing old.

The second one.

I am of the nature to have ill health.

There is no way to escape ill health.

Number three,

I am of the nature to die.

There is no way to escape death.

Number four,

All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change.

There is no way to escape being separated from them.

And finally,

My actions are my only true belongings.

I cannot escape the consequences of my actions.

My actions are the ground upon which I stand.

Feel free to continue contemplating these as you breathe and relax.

Take care.