THE SOCIAL BENEFACTOR

A constructive member of society possesses the following qualities or principles of conduct:
A. He has the Divine Abidings, the four mental attributes of a being who is sublime or grand-minded like a god, which are:
1. Metta, loving kindness: goodwill and amity, the wish to help all people attain benefit and happiness.
2. Karuna, compassion: the desire to help other people escape from their sufferings; the determination to free all beings, both human and animal, of their hardships and miseries.
3. Mudita, appreciative gladness: when seeing others happy, one feels glad; when seeing others do good actions or attain success and advancement, one responds with gladness and is ready to help and support them.
4. Upekkha, equanimity: seeing things as they are with a mind that is even, steady, firm and fair like a pair of scales; understanding that all beings experience good and evil in accordance with the causes they have created; ready to judge, position oneself and act in accordance with principles, reason and equity.

                   Having established these four mental qualities as a foundation, he may express  
             them outwardly in the following ways:

B. He contributes to social harmony: he practices in accordance with the four principles for helpful integration, or qualities that bond people in unity, known as the sangaha-vatthu. These are:
1. Dana: giving; being kind, generous; sacrificing; sharing; helping and providing assistance with the four necessities, money or material possessions-including the imparting of knowledge or understanding and learning.
2. Piyavaca: amicable speech; speaking words that are polite, pleasant to the ear, and helpful, that point the way to benefit, and that are based on reason and conducive to goodness; or words that are sympathetic and encouraging; speaking words that lead to understanding, harmony, friendship, and mutual love, respect and service.
3. Atthacariya: helpful action; helping with physical service, making an effort to lend a hand to others in their activities; performing actions that are helpful to the community; including helping to resolve problems and promote morality.
4. Samanattata: participation; putting oneself in communion with others; behaving consistently and impartially; behaving equitably toward all people, not taking advantage of them; sharing in their happiness and suffering, acknowledging problems and participating in resolving them for the common good.
In brief, these are to help through contributions of money, material things or knowledge; to help through speech; to help through physical action; and to help through participation in facing and resolving problems.