Overview
These six principles are the glue that holds the Buddhist monastic community (and by extension, any spiritual community) together. The Buddha declared that these qualities create love, respect, unity, and prevent disputes. They ensure the community remains singular in purpose.
The List
- Mettā-kāyakamma - Loving-kindness in bodily acts: Treating fellow practitioners with physical care and respect, both in public and private.
- Mettā-vacīkamma - Loving-kindness in verbal acts: Speaking gently, truthfully, and affectionately to fellow practitioners, both in public and private.
- Mettā-manokamma - Loving-kindness in mental acts: Holding thoughts of goodwill and wishing the best for fellow practitioners, both in public and private.
- Sādhāraṇabhogī - Sharing of lawful gains: Distributing any righteously acquired requisites (even down to the contents of one’s alms bowl) equally with virtuous companions.
- Sīlasāmaññatā - Unbroken, shared virtue: Maintaining the exact same level of flawless, unblemished moral discipline (the Pāṭimokkha) as one’s companions, creating moral equality.
- Diṭṭhisāmaññatā - Shared Right View: Holding the exact same noble, liberating understanding of the Dhamma as one’s companions, creating philosophical unity.
Textual References
- Canonical: Kosambiya Sutta (MN 48) – The Buddha teaches these six principles to the monks at Kosambi to heal a severe, deeply entrenched schism.