Shakyamuni also taught the four means: giving, kind words, benefiting others, and compassion. As in the Six Perfections, giving includes using all the resources of body and mind to save others and freely bestowing both the teachings and material goods on those in need. Kind words means speaking for the benefit of others. The words may be of encouragement and praise or criticism and censure, depending on the situation. At times, silence may be the kindest and most beneficial speech. Benefiting others includes all other sorts of actions for the good of living beings. Compassion means abandoning attachment to the self and its own interests, identifying with the needs and feelings of others, and acting in others’ interest. Giving is the basic impulse behind each of the four means: in the perfection of the practice of giving is found the perfection of each of the four means.
Basic Buddhist Concepts