The Four Assistant Methods

Presenter:

Ven. Dr. Giác Hạnh

Niệm Phật Đường Fremont

Sunday, March 25, 2012

(Tứ Nhiếp Pháp)

I. Introduction

II. Definition

III. What are The Four Assistant

Methods?

IV. The Advantages of The Four

Assistant Methods

V. Conclusion

I. Introduction

• The firm determination and the bold

proclamation of the young Sumedha:

1. Buddho bodeyyaṁ = As I know the Four

Nobles Truths, so I shall make others

know them

2. Mutto mocceyya = As I am liberated from

the bolds of life, so shall I make others be

liberated likewise

3. Tiṇṇo tāreyyaṁ = As I swim across the

great whirlpool of saṁsāra, so I shall

make others do the same

I. Introduction (con’t)

• The Bodhisatta, in fulfilling the perfections

throughout his previous existences,

practiced the following three cariyas:

1. Lokattha Cariya = the noble practice

aiming at the welfare of all beings

2. Ñātattha Cariya = the noble practice

aiming at the welfare of own relatives and

race

3. Buddhattha Cariya: the noble practice

aiming at becoming the fully enlightened

Buddha who can save beings from the

sufferings of Saṁsāra.

I. Introduction (con’t)

• The main purpose of Buddha’s

appearing in this world.

• Buddhists are his followers. What

shall we do for ourselves and others

as well?

II. Definition

Four assistant methods consist of four

methods to cultivate and conquer

sentient beings. These methods must

base upon one’s loving-kindness and

compassion to guide and educate in

mending their ways. They are applied

to all circumstances, situations, and

have the ability to enlighten the living

beings.

III. What are the Four

Assistant Methods?

1) Making charity

2) Friendly speech

3) Beneficial actions

4) Collaboration

IV. To explain the Four

Assistant Methods one by

one in detail

1) Making Charity

• Giving material offering (āmisa-dāna)

• Giving sanctuary and protection to

animals (abhaya-dāna), and

• Giving doctrinal lectures (dhamma-

dāna)

2) Friendly Speech

• Speaking at a proper time

• Speaking the truth, without lies

• Speaking with gentle words

• Speaking that is beneficial

• Speaking with mettā, loving kindness

3) Beneficial Actions

• Dhamma practice, which can brings

happiness peace for oneself and others.

• How shall we practice dhamma?

– Dāna = generosity or giving in charity

– Sīla = morality

– Bhāvanā = meditation; cultivation of the mind

– Apacāyana = service, beneficial acts, helping

others in performing good deeds

– Pattidāna = sharing merits with others after

doing some good deeds

– Pattānumodāna = rejoicing in others’

meritorious deeds and saying well-done!

3) Beneficial Actions (con’t)

– Dhammassavana = listening well to the

Doctrine

– Dhammadasanā = teaching the Doctrine, and

– Diṭṭhijukamma = straightening one’s view

(having faith in their kamma and its results)

4) Collaboration

• To be harmonized with all beings in

any matters and situations

• Without any distinguishing between

the rich and poor, the noble and the

commoners, etc.

V. What are the Advantages of

The Four Assistant Methods?

1) The Advantages of

Charity

• To lessen suffering of the needy

people

• To bring fearlessness to fearful

people

• To bring right view to people who are

in wrong view

• To reduce greed, craving and

attachment

• Loved and revered by other people

1) The Advantages of

Charity (con’t)

• Approached by virtuous people

• Famous with good reputation

• Entering into all kinds of audiences

delightfully (in present), and

• Being reborn at the abode of the

celestials after death

2) The Advantages of

Friendly Speech

• It is easy to convince and charm

others

• It is easy to subdue our anger

• To build one’s beauty/handsomeness

for present life and future existences

as well, and so on…

3) The Advantages of

Beneficial Actions

• It is easy to civilize others

• To make others be very happy

• To accumulate merits moment by

moment

• To deposit our property in a spiritual

bank and so on…

4) The Advantages of

Collaboration

• To show equal idea among human beings

as Buddha said human beings have the

same color of blood and the same taste of

the tear;

• To eliminate all bad thought which can

show and differentiate between inferior

and superior among people whom we

contact; and

• One will be loved by others around the

world.

V. Conclusion

The Four Assistant Methods are very

concrete and so beautiful approaches

which can build up a wonderful situation,

circumstance, world, and so on. If we know

how to apply it to our daily life we will give

our beautiful hands to build a wonderful

world in this very life and it is also a firm

foundation for our next perfect heaven as

well.