The Three Acts of Goodness are a fundamental ethical teaching often associated with Humanistic Buddhism and various Chinese Mahāyāna traditions. They offer a simple, practical framework for daily ethical conduct by focusing on the actions of the body, speech, and mind.
- Do Good Deeds (Body)
This act emphasizes physical action and service to others. It involves being active, helpful, and generous in the world.
• Practice: Engaging in charity, volunteering, assisting those in need, protecting the environment, and respecting life.
• Focus: Using the body to benefit sentient beings and the world.
- Speak Good Words (Speech)
This act emphasizes ethical communication and the power of language. It relates directly to several of the 10 Wholesome Actions of speech.
• Practice: Speaking truthfully, kindly, politely, encouragingly, and meaningfully. Avoiding harsh words, gossip, lies, and divisive speech.
• Focus: Using speech to bring harmony, comfort, and wisdom.
- Think Good Thoughts (Mind)
This act emphasizes mental cultivation and the root of all action, which is intention.
• Practice: Cultivating positive mental states such as wisdom, compassion, joy, and equanimity. Avoiding thoughts of hatred, greed, jealousy, and delusion.
• Focus: Training the mind to be wholesome, pure, and oriented toward enlightenment