The Buddha Preaches Four Beneficial Actions: Saṃgrahavastu四攝法

K.Wong

Gotama Buddha promulgates
Four beneficial Actions
Benevolent and altruistic
What are they ?
Generosity (布施) to help
Meaningful Speech (愛語) to soothe
Beneficial Conduct (利行) to encourage
Comradeship (同事) to co-operate

Generous in the spirit of humantarianism
Uttering words of courtesy and diplomacy
Morally restrained to avoid evils
Virtuous and altruistic to do good
Executing mindfulness and awareness
Perfumed by Four Sublime Virtues
Lovingkindness, Compassion, Appreciative Joy and Equanimity
Unifying and harmonizing the social sphere

Editor’s Note:

The Four Beneficial Actions are employed by a Bodhisattva to please or to gain the friendship of the sentient beings so that the Bodhisattva can transmit the Dharma to liberate them.

Many of us are not Bodhisattvas. Nevertheless, these Four Beneficial Actions can be utilized to increase one’s influence in any group’s family, social or occupational activity to get tasks performed more efficiently and effectively. The Four Beneficial Actions may be called effective leadership skills in mundane activities. Dharma ought to be learned and applied in daily mundane activities, such as family activities, social activities, occupational activities or business activities.