HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF INTERBEING
In the early 1960s, amid the crucible of war in Vietnam, the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh (Thầy) evolved a new container for the practice and compiled the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings to delineate it. He called it the Tiếp Hien (Order of Interbeing) and ordained the first six members of the Order. In 1981, Thầy began ordaining more people into the Order, some monastics, some laypeople. The inclusion of lay and monastic members as equals in an Order was unique in the Buddhist world. No other ordinations occurred until the mid-1980s when the stream of Order members began to freshen. Since then, the Order has become a worldwide multifold community of practitioners. Order members study, practice, and recite the trainings to support their practice. As the recitation ceremony says: The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings are the very essence of the Order of Interbeing. They are the torch lighting our path, the boat carrying us, the teacher guiding us. Thich Nhat Hanh has said that after his passing he does not want his ashes to be put in a stupa. He warns us not to be caught in the form and not to believe he is to be found in the stupa, or even outside the stupa. Rather, Thầy said, “If I am anywhere, it is in your mindful breathing and in your peaceful steps.” As Thầy’s students, Order of Interbeing members—lay and monastic—continue Thich Nhat Hanh’s teaching through our breathing, our steps, and our practice of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings.
COMPOSITION & COMMITMENT OF THE ORDER
The Order of Interbeing is composed of community members that accept the responsibility to organize and support a local or online Sangha, and help sustain Mindfulness Trainings recitations, days of mindfulness, and mindfulness retreats. Ordination is in essence a commitment to the bodhisattva vow. It is not something you add to your personality, ego, or resume. Ordination is a commitment to make the practice of mindfulness and the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings the central organizing principle of your life. It is a way of being that you continually grow into. It is not an event or culmination; it is a celebration along the journey to which you commit your life. As the Second Mindfulness Training says, “Truth is found in life and we will observe life in and around us in every moment, ready to learn throughout our lives.” An Aspirant to the community must have sufficient grounding in the practice to participate energetically and effectively in being mentored by qualified mentors.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR MENTORS
Three situations qualify one to mentor. To accept an Order of Interbeing Aspirant for mentoring, one must:
- Be a Dharma Teacher who received Lamp Transmission and is practicing consistently with a Sangha in the Plum Village tradition. OR
- Have been ordained an Order member for at least five years and have practiced consistently for five years with a Sangha in the Plum Village tradition and have the agreement of a Dharma Teacher to provide support, assistance, and as necessary, supervision for mentoring this Aspirant. OR
- Have been ordained as an Order member for at least one year with extensive pre-ordination OI Sangha and personal practice experience, is practicing consistently with a Sangha in the Plum Village tradition and have the agreement of a supporting Dharma Teacher to supervise the OI Mentor and actively participate with both the OI Mentor and the Aspirant during the Aspirancy. To actively participate means: at least quarterly significant contact among the Dharma Teacher, OI Mentor(s), and Aspirant as well as personal practice together in a formal setting of at least one day’s duration (Retreat or structured Day of Mindfulness led by the Dharma Teacher) at least twice during the Aspirancy.
Aspirants and mentors may benefit most when they are in the same geographic region so they can practice together in person, at least on occasion. However, an Aspirant may be from a distinctive or marginalized group. The Aspirant then might benefit if mentors are from a similar group or ones with similar experiences. In those cases, an Aspirant may work with a non-local mentor with a background similar to the Aspirant’s. Whenever possible, the non-local Dharma Teacher should be in touch with and co-mentor with the local Dharma Teacher, if available, or a local OI mentor. Aspirants are expected to practice with their Dharma Teacher mentor(s) at least once or twice a year while mentoring. Sanghas are encouraged to offer resources to support this practice.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ASPIRANCY TRAINING
- I support and practice faithfully with my Sangha.
- I formally received the Five Mindfulness Trainings at least one year ago from Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh or a Tiếp Hiện Dharma Teacher.
- I recite the Five Mindfulness Trainings at least once a month and have done so since receiving or renewing my commitment to the trainings.
- I study, practice, and observe all five mindfulness trainings.
- I have a daily practice that includes meditation.
- I am alcohol- and recreational drug-free and will remain so.
- I have begun to observe regular Days of Mindfulness.
- If partnered, my partner supports my aspiration to the Order.
- I am working with the Reflection Questions that are part of my application.
- I am familiar with the Order, the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings, and the Charter as presented in the book Interbeing. I use and study the book.
- I have identified a Dharma Teacher or qualified Order of Interbeing Member willing to serve as my mentor(s).
- A Tiếp Hiện Dharma Teacher has agreed to support my aspirancy and work with my Order of Interbeing mentor(s)
I am aware that by aspiring I am committing to:
- Practice 60 days of mindfulness each year.
- Study, practice, and observe the 14 Mindfulness Trainings and recite them at least quarterly.
- Attend Days of Mindfulness and Retreats.
ASPIRANCY PROCESS
- Writes a letter of intent, after consultation with an OI mentor and Dharma Teacher.
- Secures 1-2 mentors and one Dharma Teacher as mentoring team; fills out mentoring form, (p. 3 of “Application…).
- Meets in person or on phone with the mentoring team; aspirant and mentors set up a plan that seems most beneficial for Aspirant regarding who s/he will work with on practice, texts, Sutra study, Sangha building & facilitation, etc.
- Meets with mentor and with the supervising Dharma Teacher, respecting the agreed upon schedules.
- Meets regularly with an OI Aspirants group, where available. If not available, makes a commitment to join a phone or online 14 MT Recitation group.
- Attends OI retreats in their region, such as the annual OI Retreat at Blue Cliff Monastery.
- Writes responses to “Pre-Aspirant and Aspirant Questions for Reflection” (p. 5-6).
- Studies, reflects on, and practices with each of the 14 Mindfulness Trainings.
- Completes a formal application packet for ordination after the mentoring team and aspirant agree that mentee is ripe for ordination.
- Aspirant requests support from their Sangha.
- Arranges for continuing mentoring and support after ordination.
- Note: During the aspirant process, and before ordination, the supervising Dharma Teacher, the local Dharma Teacher, if there is one, and the aspirant’s mentors and Sangha need to be in communication and ultimately be in harmony before ordination proceeds.
Ripening into ordination is not like completing a curriculum, but the process of maturing and developing our practice so we are able to respond to and help transform our own and other’s suffering. The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings provide the basis for this growth and practice. Readiness is very individual, with no specific timeline, just as each plum on a tree ripens when causes and conditions are sufficient. Suggested areas for cultivating and assessing ripeness may include qualities, actions, understanding, skills and practice, and reading and study.