Question:
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What are the 6 principles of living in harmony?
Answer:
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A sangha is a group of four or more people who
practice the Buddha's teachings together in accordance
with the Six Principles of Harmony.
The Six Principles of Harmony are:
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1. To share the same viewpoints or goals.
2. To observe the same precepts.
3. To live and practice together harmoniously.
4. To not quarrel.
5. To experience the inner peace and happiness from
practicing together harmoniously.
6. To share benefits equally.
The purpose of the sangha is to spread the Buddha's
teachings in helping all beings. Whether those
committed to propagating the teachings or those
devoted to supporting them, all are equally important
in achieving this purpose. When one looks at a clock,
one only sees the minute and hour hands and not the
intricate parts within that keep it ticking. However,
if one part is missing, the hands cannot move. Only in
working together as one entity does the sangha
accumulate infinite merits.
Buddha Shakyamuni teaches unceasingly, even during
moments of silence. Through simply observing certain
movements of the Buddha, beings with high levels of
intelligence and wisdom can reach realization. His
teachings not only include speech, but also languages
of the body and mind.
Not only do beings from the six realms come to learn
from the Buddha, but beings from all the nine realms
do as well.
Reference:
http://www.amtb.org.tw/e-bud/wlsch202.htm
N.B.: This is called liu4 he2 jing4 in Chinese.
kusala: Wholesome, skillful, good, meritorious. An
action characterized by this moral quality
(kusala-kamma) is bound to result (eventually) in
happiness and a favorable outcome. Actions
characterized by its opposite (akusala-kamma) lead to
sorrow.