THE FOUNDATION

 

Living wisely begins with our most fundamental choices. The Buddhist teachings of the Five Precepts and Ten Virtuous Actions offer a clear and practical map for cultivating a life of harmony, protection, and genuine happiness. They guide us to move from merely wishing for good fortune to actively planting the seeds of good causes (“种善因”), in alignment with the natural law of cause and effect.

Adhering to these principles is more than a discipline; it is a way of accumulating merit and purifying our energy. Each conscious choice to refrain from harm and to engage in good creates positive karma—this merit becomes the very foundation of our well-being, protecting us and paving the way for contentment to flourish in our lives.

The Five Precepts: A Foundation of Respect 

 

These are five training guidelines for a peaceful life, undertaken voluntarily by lay practitioners.

1. To abstain from taking life. Respect all living beings, cultivating compassion and non-harm.
2. To abstain from taking what is not given. Live with honesty and respect for the property of others. 
3. To abstain from sexual misconduct. Conduct relationships with integrity, fidelity, and care. 
4. . To abstain from false speech. Communicate with truthfulness, building trust.
5. To abstain from intoxicants. Maintain a clear and mindful awareness.

 

The Ten Virtuous Actions: A Blueprint for Goodness

 

These ten positive actions expand upon the precepts, guiding our body, speech, and mind toward goodness. Three of Body:

1. Protect life.
2. Practice generosity and respect for property.
3. Maintain purity in conduct. · Four of Speech: 
4. Speak truthfully.
5. Speak harmoniously to unite others.
6. Speak kindly and gently. 
7. Speak meaningfully and purposefully. · Three of Mind:
8. Cultivate contentment, free from greed.
9. Cultivate loving-kindness, free from ill will.
10. Hold right views, understanding cause and effect.

By integrating even one of these principles into our daily life, we begin to strengthen our inner light and shape a more positive destiny. This conscious foundation is the first step in the Mahamani journey—transforming everyday actions into a source of lasting peace and strength.

MIND TRAINING 

From Reaction to Awareness 

 

True well-being begins within the mind. Our habitual tendency is to instantly label and judge our experiences—this is “good,” that is “bad”; this is “beautiful,” that is “flawed.” This automatic process of definition and discrimination creates a world of separation, likes and dislikes, which is the very source of our inner conflict and suffering.

Mind training is the practice of freeing ourselves from this automatic chain reaction. It is not about forcing positivity or denying our feelings, but about cultivating a space of clear awareness between an experience and our conditioned response.

The Practice of Non-Identification 

 

The first step is simple awareness. When a feeling arises—such as irritation upon seeing someone—we practice fully noticing it without taking the next step.

Instead of following the feeling into action (like speaking harshly or making a face), we simply acknowledge: “Ah, this is aversion arising.” · 

We do not need to like the person or the feeling. We are not trying to change the initial reaction. We are changing our relationship to it by not fueling it with further thoughts or actions. We let the feeling be, and we let it pass, like a cloud moving through the sky of our awareness. 

 

The Anchor of the Breath 

 

Our thoughts and our breath are intimately connected—an agitated mind leads to ragged breath, a calm breath soothes the mind. This is the principle of “mind and breath are not two.” 

A foundational practice to steady our awareness is breath-counting: 

1. Sit comfortably and bring gentle attention to your natural breath.
2. Silently count “one” on the inhalation, “two” on the exhalation.
3. Continue up to ten, then begin again at one.
4. The moment you notice your mind has wandered, gently return to “one” without judgment. The goal is not to reach one hundred without distraction, but to repeatedly return to the present moment each time you notice you have left it. 

This simple exercise trains the “muscle” of single-pointed focus. It grounds us in the present, where reactive patterns lose their power. 

This disciplined, kind attention is the alchemy that transforms daily life. It is how we begin to polish our inner Mani—not by fighting our experience, but by bringing the light of awareness to it. 

 

The “ॐ” (Om)

 

At Mahamani, every piece is mindfully impressed with the sacred character “ॐ” (Om). This is not merely a design element; it is a tangible seal and a constant reminder to return to a state of conscious, unhurried presence.

In Buddhist tradition, particularly within Vajrayana, “Om” is revered as the primordial sound—the vibrational source of the universe. It represents the embodiment of ultimate reality, the unity of wisdom and compassion, and the essence of all sacred mantras. As a seed syllable, it carries the potential for purification, connection, and awakening.

To wear this symbol is to carry a personal point of resonance. It serves as an invitation to open oneself fully, creating a clear and receptive inner space. In this state of openness and present-moment awareness, a deeper connection with a higher, purer energy becomes naturally accessible.

Thus, the “Om” on each Mahamani jewel is a silent, enduring whisper: a call to purify, connect, and abide in the luminous clarity of the now. It transforms personal adornment into an instrument of mindful remembrance.