The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2581 page)

 
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(‘skill in means’). Adaptation of teaching in Buddhism to the level of the audience's existing attainment. The concept of ‘skilful means’ is of considerable importance in
Mah
y
na
Buddhism and is expounded at an early date in texts such as the
Lotus S
tra
and the teachings of
Vimalak
rti S
tra
. At the root of the idea is the notion that the
Buddha's
teaching is essentially a provisional means to bring beings to
enlightenment
, and that the teachings which he gives may therefore vary: what may be appropriate at one time may not be so at another. The concept is used by the Mah
y
na to justify what appear to be its innovations in doctrine, and to portray the Buddha's early teachings as limited and restricted in accordance with the spiritual potential of his early followers. In the Mah
y
na, skilful means comes to be a legitimate method to be employed by buddhas and
bodhisattvas
whenever the benefit of beings would seem to warrant it. Although this involves a certain degree of duplicity, such as telling lies, the Buddha is exonerated from all blame, since his only motivation is compassionate concern for all beings.

 
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