Three Acts of Goodness (TAG) 三好運動
The movement of the Three Acts of Goodness, “Do Good Deeds, Speak Good Words, and Think Good Thoughts” was introduced by Venerable Master Hsing Yun at the 1998 Welcoming Prayer Ceremony for the Buddha Tooth Relic in the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. At the Ceremony, Venerable Master led a crowd of 100,000 in taking the pledge to practice the Three Acts of Goodness, hoping that by doing good deeds, one can resolve to serve the public; by speaking good words, one can compliment others with compassion; and by thinking good thoughts, one can always take others into consideration. By doing so, there is bound to be a bright future for the world.
For more than a decade, Fo Guang Shan and the Buddha’s Light International Association have organized a variety of activities. Be it a cultural, educational, charity, or spiritual event, the activities all carry the same objective of promoting the Three Acts of Goodness. It is hoped that everyone can regard the Three Acts of Goodness as a part of their daily life, and constantly put them into practice.
Do Good Deeds. Speak Good Words. Think Good Thoughts.
The Three Acts of Goodness (TAG) is a worldwide movement of Fo Guang Shan that espouses self and societal transformation through the purification of our actions, speech and thoughts and the cultivation of wisdom and compassion.
The Three Acts of Goodness are Do Good Deeds, Speak Good Words and Think Good Thoughts. These three acts affect our day-to-day interaction with people and our surrounding, mold our character and improve our well-being. By following the Three Acts of Goodness, there is bound to be a bright future for the world.
Do Good Deeds means to practice and cultivate actions that create harmony between self and others. It entails respect for life, belongings of others, relationship of others, and one’s health and well-being.
Speak Good Words means to practice and cultivate speech that strengthens relationships between self and others. It entails using honest and kind words, giving compliments and encouraging words to others, and keeping one’s word.
Think Good Thoughts means to practice and cultivate thoughts that emanate wisdom, compassion, and loving-kindness.
Collaboration with partner schools may be implemented in three phases:
Phase 1 – Introduction of the Three Acts of Goodness
In this phase, initial contact is done through the San Hao School Tour consisting mainly of a two hour seminar on the Three Acts of Goodness. It consists of a short lecture to introduce the core concepts of the Three Acts of Goodness and workshop activities to highlight its application in our daily lives.
Phase II – Strengthening of the Three Acts of Goodness
This consists of workshops with longer sessions. Workshop themes and objectives may be based on the needs of the school. Supplementary training on organizing Three Acts of Goodness projects is included in the workshop to prepare the participants to implement and adopt projects on their own with the supervision of FGS. For educators, the San Hao Teacher’s Training may also be provided.
Phase III – Adopting the Three Acts of Goodness
Through the supervision of FGS, the school may start to implement a project on their own. Proposals for a grant may be sent to FGS and these will be screened by the Three Acts of Goodness Committee. Schools that meet the criteria may be recognized as a San Hao Ambassador School. Ambassador schools are provided with grants to implement Three Acts of Goodness projects. Application for recognition is open to all elementary and secondary schools starting 2016.
Fo Guang Shan advocates the “The Three Acts of Goodness,” which are say good words, do good deeds and thinking good thoughts. Buddhism teaches that the source of unwholesome karma comes from our body, speech and mind. Therefore, in our cultivation, we should start from these three areas.
To do good deeds is to generate good physical karma by not killing, not stealing, not engaging in sexual misconduct as well as not committing any illicit acts. Instead, one should practice doing good by benefiting others with kind and beneficial deeds. To say good words is to cultivate good speech karma, which means one should not lie, nor engage in duplicitous, harsh or trivial speech. When one speaks, one’s words should be kind, rational, wise and truthful. Bearing good thoughts refers to cultivation of the mind. A mind should be free of doubt, jealousy, greed, anger and hatred, and instead have compassion, kindness, benevolence, motivation and vows. Cultivating these qualities is the practice of bearing good thoughts.
The three karmas of body, speech, and mind, as explained by Buddhism, can be practiced both positively and negatively. When we use these three karmas to do good, then we can be reborn in heaven; if we use them to commit wrongdoings, we may find ourselves in hell.
Therefore, following the three acts of goodness affects our future immensely. It even affects the whole community and nation, for the positive and negative morale of a society depends on the three karmas of body, speech, and mind of its citizens. If we all say good words, then what we always hear will be music to our ears. If we all do good deeds, then through helping one another valuable friendships can be established. If we all bear good thoughts, then we will find respect, peace and harmony anywhere we go. The movement to pursue the “Three Acts of Goodness” is one that will purify and improve the morale of society. Therefore, if one person cultivates the three acts of goodness, then one person will find peace and freedom, and when a country follows the three acts of goodness, then the whole country will attain liberation.
In Humble Table, Wise Fare there is the following verse:
Say good words of compassion and kindness, for they are like the sun in winter –
Encouragements and praises profuse like the scent of a hundred flowers everywhere.
Do good deeds, for simple acts of kindness beget wondrous merits –
Service and contribution shine like the full moon high above.
Think good thoughts, for honesty and benevolence bring good fortune –
With sages and saints in the mind, it is like reaping a good harvest.
Let us all come together to pursue the “Three Acts of Goodness,” always striving to say good words, do good deeds, and think good thoughts.
(Adapted from Let Go, Move On, Between Ignorance and Enlightenment V, published by Buddha’s Light Publishing)
TAG School Program
Theme:
The theme of this project is called the Three Acts of Goodness, or the Three Virtuous Acts, or any other name you might choose to adapt as long as it fulfills the goals of the project.
Goals of the Program:
- Provide students with artistic activities through which to improve their artistic skills and promote acts of goodness.
- Through this school program based on the “Three Acts of Goodness” (speak good words, do good deeds, and think good thoughts), it is hoped that students can be inspired to live with these good principles, practicing mutual respect and tolerance. Hence, in the process of these actions, they can spread joy and love to all corners of society.
- Generate endless imagination and creativity within the theme: “Practice the Three Acts of Goodness”.
- Actualize the “Three Acts of Goodness.
Activities Plan:
http://www.nantien.org.au/en/sites/upload/notice/notice/three_acts_goodness_school_proposal_0608.pdf
About the Program:
This program is available at
- FGS Mabuhay Temple, Philippines. Feel free to request more info.
- Nan Tien Temple, Australia. Feel free to request more info.
- Three Acts of Goodness School, Taiwan. Feel free to request more info.
Three Acts of Goodness Story Festival
Goals of the Program:
- Join our story festival and explore the joy of reading!
- An opportunity for children to tell their favorite story to be made into a short video and showcased in the Story Festival. Nurture a love of books and the confidence to read and speak in children.
- Actualize the “Three Acts of Goodness.
About the Program:
This program is organized by FGS Nan Tien Temple. Feel free to request more info.
3 Good Deeds and 4 Kinds of Giving (3G4G)
Welcome to join the free education program offer to local schools which delivering the message of 3G4G to the students. The Three Goodness (3G) are Do Good Deeds, Say Good Words and Think Good Thoughts; and the Four Givings (4G) are Giving others Confidence, Joy, Hope and Convenience.
Goals of the Program:
- To encourage young people to build positive relationships.
- To raise awareness of different cultures in the local community.
- To support local schools in achieving their school values.
- To reinforce the concept of connectedness in the community.
About the Program:
This program is organized by FGS New Zealand annually. Feel free to request more info.
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