The Buddha taught six practices for bodhisattvas.
The Six Perfections are:-
- donation
- keeping the precepts
- perseverance
- assiduity
- meditation
- and wisdom
Donation
Donation is your sincere service to the community. Anyone can open their wallets but to give of your time, to give of part of your precious lifetime in dissemination of the Dharma is fundamental to the bodhisattva way. Donation involves service to others, both in thought and deed, with kindness and in the hope of bringing happiness to everyone.
Keeping the precepts
By ensuring our deeds are in keeping with universal morality, we are filled with a sense that we are one with others. The buddhist principle "Nothing has an ego: nothing in this world exists entirely of itself" is never more true for those who practice the bodhisattva way. When our actions are against harming others, theft and deception we become aware of keeping the precepts.
Perseverance
When our deep love for fellow human beings is constant and has no place for anger then the constancy of this love teaches us perseverance. We learn not to be distracted by all the little things that go on around us.
Assiduity
When we can concentrate fully on a given task, we have learned assiduity. We learn not to be frustrated, to be calm and collected in all circumstances.
Meditation
Meditation is most commonly understood to mean sitting contemplation. It may be said with humour that is better than sitting doing nothing. Rissho Kosei-kai is not a meditative sect and as such does not practice zazen in our meetings. But we all need to 'chill out' occasionally, amid a busy life-style to 'take time to smell the roses.' Meditation teaches us to be aware of all phenomena around us and throughout the universe.
Wisdom
This is the state of mind to strive for in our daily lives. By following the bodhisattva way and bringing the six perfections into our daily lives we gain strength in thought and deed. When we chose truth and righteousness, we become aware of the truth that runs as a single thread through all phenomena.
In taking our message of the truth of the dharma to others, let us not do so severely or with arrogance, but with friendliness and with good cheer. Striving for the six perfections is not difficult. The important thing is to begin by trying to serve others and enjoying ourselves as we go about it.
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