The Five Awarenesses
Originally sourced from Thich Nhat Hanh's book, How To Love, these verses refresh our commitment and reverence for our loved ones. If you have a bell, you may invite it to sound after you recite each line. Follow the sound your bell (or hold the place of one) by breathing in and out a few times in silence before continuing to the next verse.
- We are aware that all generations of our ancestors and all future generations are present in us.
- We are aware of the expectation that our ancestors, our children, and their children have of us.
- We are aware that our joy, peace, freedom, and harmony are the joy, peace, freedom, and harmony of our ancestors, our children, and their children.
- We are aware that understanding is the very foundation of love.
- We are aware that blaming and arguing can never help us and only creates a wider gap between us; that only understanding, trust, and love can help us change and grow.
These phrases may be called upon for daily use between partners or to affirm feelings of respect in commitment ceremonies. Every person's reason for meditating with these words in mind is special and different, let them encourage deeper introspection and understanding with each recitation.