Buddhist Perfections   10 pāramī dāna sīla nekkhamma paññā viriya khanti sacca adhiṭṭhāna mettā upekkhā      6 pāramitā  dāna sīla kṣānti vīrya dhyāna prajñā   Colored items are in both lists. Theravada Buddhism Theravada Buddhism 's teachings on the paramitas can be found in late canonical books and post-canonical commentaries Bodhisattva and the Art of Giving The quality of giving is one of the virtues perfected over numerous lifetimes by Shakyamuni Buddha in his Bodhisattva Nekkhamma is a Pali word generally translated as "renunciation" while also conveying more specifically "giving up the world and leading a holy life" In the Pali Canon In the Pali Canon, paññā is defined in a variety of overlapping ways frequently centering on concentrated insight See also Bodhipakkhiya dhamma (Qualities conducive to Enlightenment Four Right Exertions Five Faculties Kshanti or kṣanti ( Skt) or khanti ( Pali) has been translated as patience forbearance and forgiveness Sacca is a Pāli word meaning "real" or "true" In early Buddhist literature sacca is often found in the context of the " Pali Canon texts While adhiṭṭhāna appears sporadically in the early Pali Canon, various late-canonical and post-canonical accounts of the Buddha Mettā meditation the practice of loving-kindness Mettā signifies Friendship and Non-violence as well as "a strong wish for the happiness of others" Upekṣā ( Sanskrit / Devanāgarī script: उपेक्षा Pali: Upekkhā) is the Buddhist concept of Equanimity. Theravada Buddhism Theravada Buddhism 's teachings on the paramitas can be found in late canonical books and post-canonical commentaries Bodhisattva and the Art of Giving The quality of giving is one of the virtues perfected over numerous lifetimes by Shakyamuni Buddha in his Bodhisattva Kshanti or kṣanti ( Skt) or khanti ( Pali) has been translated as patience forbearance and forgiveness See also Bodhipakkhiya dhamma (Qualities conducive to Enlightenment Four Right Exertions Five Faculties Dhyāna in Hinduism See also Dhyana in Hinduism In Hinduism dhyana is considered to be an instrument to gain self knowledge separating maya from In the Pali Canon In the Pali Canon, paññā is defined in a variety of overlapping ways frequently centering on concentrated insight

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The term Pāramitā or Pāramī (Sanskrit and Pāli respectively)^[1] means "Perfect" or "Perfection". Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The History of Buddhism spans the 6th century BCE to the present starting with the birth of the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama. Foundation to the Common Era Some sources give the date of the Buddha's birth as 563 BCE and others as 624 BCE Theravada Buddhist countries tend to use the latter figure Lists and numbering of Buddhist councils vary between and even within schools Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term Background Why the Buddha is said to have taught in this way is illuminated by the social context of the time in which he lived In sramanic philosophy Nirvana (निर्वाण| Nirvāṇa; निब्बान Nibbāna; Prakrit: णिव्वाण The Three Jewels, also called the Three Treasures, the Three Refuges, or the Triple Gem, are the three things that Buddhists take refuge Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term According to the Buddhist tradition all phenomena other than Nirvana, ( sankhara) are marked by three characteristics sometimes referred to as the Dharma seals In Buddhist phenomenology and Soteriology, the five skandhas ( Sanskrit) or khandhas ( Pāli) are five "aggregates" Buddhist cosmology is the description of the shape and evolution of the universe according to the canonical Buddhist scriptures and commentaries Rebirth in Buddhism is the doctrine that the consciousness of a person (as conventionally regarded upon the death or dissolution of the aggregates ( Skandhas Dhamma ( Pāli: धम्म or Dharma (धर्म in Buddhism has two primary meanings the teachings of the Buddha which lead to enlightenment The doctrine of pratītyasamutpāda (Sanskrit paticcasamuppāda; rten Karma ( Sanskrit: कर्मन karman, Pāli: कमा Kamma) means "action" or "doing" whatever A number of noted individuals have been Buddhists. Historical Buddhist thinkers and founders of schools Individuals are grouped by nationality except in cases where the Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder A number of noted individuals have been Buddhists. Historical Buddhist thinkers and founders of schools Individuals are grouped by nationality except in cases where the In Buddhism, buddhahood ( Sanskrit: buddhatva. Pali: buddhatta. In the Buddhist context a bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व bodhisattva;; Vietnamese Bồ Tát; बोधिसत्त bodhisatta The four stages of Enlightenment in Buddhism are the four degrees of approach to full enlightenment as an Arahant which a person can attain in this life Theravada Buddhism Theravada Buddhism 's teachings on the paramitas can be found in late canonical books and post-canonical commentaries Buddhist meditation encompasses a variety of Meditation techniques that develop Mindfulness, concentration, tranquility and insight In English translations of Buddhist literature, householder denotes a variety of terms Obtaining exact numbers of practicing Buddhists can be difficult and may be reliant on the definition used Buddhist beliefs and practices vary according to region There are distinctions between and within the Buddhism practised in various regions including In South Asia Mahayana Buddhism is the State religion of Bhutan, and Buddhists comprise 98% of its population. History See also History of Buddhism in Cambodia Unconfirmed Singhalese sources assert that missionaries of King Asohka introduced Buddhism into Chinese Buddhism ( Pinyin fójiào refers collectively to the various schools of Buddhism that have flourished in China proper since ancient times Buddhism is a world religion which arose in Bihar, India and is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who is known as the Buddha (literally Among the five official religions of Indonesia, according to the state ideology of Pancasila According to Suharto, Buddhism and Hinduism were Indonesia's classical The history of Buddhism in Japan can be roughly divided into three periods namely the Nara period (up to 784 the Heian period (794–1185 and the post-Heian period Korean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms of Buddhism by its attempt to resolve what it sees as inconsistencies in Mahayana Buddhism Buddhism is the primary religion of Laos. The Buddhism practiced in Laos is of the Theravada tradition Buddhism is the second largest religion in Malaysia after Islam, with 19 Buddhism in Mongolia is essentially Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa school History The history of Buddhism in Burmaextends nearly a millennium Buddha was born in Shakya kingdom which lies in Rupandehi district Lumbini zone of Nepal Historically Buddhism was incorporated into Russian lands as early as the late 16th century, when Russian explorers travelled to and settled in As of 2000 425% of the Singaporeans register themselves as Buddhist by religion General Buddhism in Sri Lanka is primarily of the Theravada school and constitutes the religious faith of about 70% of the populationAccording to traditional Buddhism in Thailand is largely of the Theravada school Nearly 95% of Thailand 's population is Buddhist of the Theravada school though Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including Buddhism came to Vietnam in the first century CE By the end of the second century Vietnam developed a major Buddhist centre in the region commonly known as the Luy Lâu Buddhism in the West broadly encompasses the knowledge and practice of Buddhism outside of Asia. 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Buddhism is classified in various ways History Origin of the school The Theravāda school is ultimately derived from the Vibhajjavāda (or 'doctrine of analysis' grouping which was a continuation Mahayana ( Sanskrit: mahāyāna, Devanagari: महायान 'Great Vehicle' is one of the two main existing schools of Buddhism and a term for Vajrayana Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayana, Mantranaya, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and The Early Buddhist schools are those schools into which according to most scholars the Buddhist monastic Sangha initially split due originally to differences in The term pre-sectarian Buddhism is used by some scholars to refer to the Buddhism that existed before the various subsects of Buddhism came into being Buddhist texts can be categorized in a number of ways The Western terms "scripture" and "canonical" are applied to Buddhism in inconsistent ways by Western scholars Historicity and Background Place in the Canon Various Mahayana Sutras have been included in the Tibetan Canon and the Chinese Canon. The Tibetan Buddhist canon is a loosely defined list of Sacred texts recognized by various sects of Tibetan Buddhism. The cultural elements of Buddhism vary by region and include Buddhist Festivals and Observances Vesak The following is a List of Buddhist topics: A Abhidharma Aggañña Sutta Ahimsa Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Pali ( ISO 15919 / ALA-LC: Pāḷi is a Middle Indo-Aryan language or Prakrit of India. In Buddhism, the Paramitas refer to the perfection or culmination of certain virtues. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices In Buddhism, these virtues are cultivated as a way of purification, purifying (karma) and helping the aspirant to live an unobstructed life, while reaching the goal of Enlightenment. Karma ( Sanskrit: कर्म, kárman - "act action performance" Pali: kamma) is the concept of "action" Bodhi (बोधि is both the Pāli and Sanskrit word traditionally translated into English as "enlightenment

Contents 1 The Paramitas in Theravada Buddhism 1.1 Canonical sources 1.2 Traditional Theravada practice 2 The Paramitas in Mahayana Buddhism 3 Paramitas in Vajrayana 4 Notes 5 Sources 6 See also 7 External links

The Paramitas in Theravada Buddhism

The Theravadin teachings on Paramitas can be found in books (the Buddhavamsa, Jatakas and Avadanas) and commentaries which have been added to the Pali Canon at a later time, and thus they are not an original part of the Theravadin teachings^[2]. The Buddhavamsa (-vaṃsa abbrev Bv is a Buddhist scripture part of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. The Jātaka Tales ( Sanskrit जातक and Pali, Malay: jetaka Lao: satok refer to a voluminous body of Folklore -like literature Avadāna ( Sanskrit; Pali cognate Apadāna) is the name given to a type of Buddhist literature correlating past lives ' virtuous deeds to subsequent Also, the oldest parts of the Sutta Pitaka (for example: Majjhima Nikaya, Digha Nikaya, Samyutta Nikaya and the Anguttara Nikaya) do not have any mention of the paramitas^[3]. The Sutta Pitaka (suttapiṭaka or Suttanta Pitaka cf Sanskrit सूत्र पिटक Sutra Pitaka) is the second of the three divisions of the Tipitaka or The Majjhima Nikaya (-nikāya "Collection of Middle-length Discourses" is a Buddhist scripture the second of the five Nikayas or collections in the The Digha Nikaya (dīghanikāya "Collection of Long Discourses" is a Buddhist scripture the first of the five Nikayas or collections The Samyutta Nikaya (Saṃyutta Nikāya SN, "Connected Discourses" or "Kindred Sayings" is a Buddhist scripture the third of the five Nikayas The Anguttara Nikaya (aṅguttaranikāya "Gradual Collection" or "Numerical Discourses" is a Buddhist scripture the fourth of the five Nikayas or Some scholars even refer to the teachings of the paramitas as a semi-Mahayana^[4] teaching which was added to the scriptures at a later time, in order to appeal to the interests and needs of the lay-community, and to popularize their religion^[5].

Canonical sources

In Theravada Buddhism's canonical Buddhavamsa^[6] the Ten Perfections (dasa pāramiyo) are (original terms in Pali):

1. Dāna parami : generosity, giving of oneself
2. Sīla parami : virtue, morality, proper conduct
3. Nekkhamma parami : renunciation
4. Paññā parami : transcendental wisdom, insight
5. Viriya (also spelt vīriya) parami : energy, diligence, vigour, effort
6. Khanti parami : patience, tolerance, forbearance, acceptance, endurance
7. Sacca parami : truthfulness, honesty
8. Adhiṭṭhāna (adhitthana) parami : determination, resolution
9. Mettā parami : loving-kindness
10. Upekkhā (also spelt upekhā) parami : equanimity, serenity

Two of the above virtues, Metta and Upekkha, also comprise two of the Four Immeasurables (Brahmavihara). History Origin of the school The Theravāda school is ultimately derived from the Vibhajjavāda (or 'doctrine of analysis' grouping which was a continuation Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The Buddhavamsa (-vaṃsa abbrev Bv is a Buddhist scripture part of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. Bodhisattva and the Art of Giving The quality of giving is one of the virtues perfected over numerous lifetimes by Shakyamuni Buddha in his Bodhisattva Nekkhamma is a Pali word generally translated as "renunciation" while also conveying more specifically "giving up the world and leading a holy life" In the Pali Canon In the Pali Canon, paññā is defined in a variety of overlapping ways frequently centering on concentrated insight See also Bodhipakkhiya dhamma (Qualities conducive to Enlightenment Four Right Exertions Five Faculties Kshanti or kṣanti ( Skt) or khanti ( Pali) has been translated as patience forbearance and forgiveness Sacca is a Pāli word meaning "real" or "true" In early Buddhist literature sacca is often found in the context of the " Pali Canon texts While adhiṭṭhāna appears sporadically in the early Pali Canon, various late-canonical and post-canonical accounts of the Buddha Mettā meditation the practice of loving-kindness Mettā signifies Friendship and Non-violence as well as "a strong wish for the happiness of others" Upekṣā ( Sanskrit / Devanāgarī script: उपेक्षा Pali: Upekkhā) is the Buddhist concept of Equanimity. Mettā meditation the practice of loving-kindness Mettā signifies Friendship and Non-violence as well as "a strong wish for the happiness of others" Upekṣā ( Sanskrit / Devanāgarī script: उपेक्षा Pali: Upekkhā) is the Buddhist concept of Equanimity. The four Brahmavihāras are a series of virtues and Buddhist meditation practices designed to cultivate those virtues

Traditional Theravada practice

Bodhi (2005) maintains that, in the earliest Buddhist texts (which he identifies as the first four nikayas), those seeking suffering's extinction (nibbana) pursued the Noble Eightfold Path. The Sutta Pitaka (suttapiṭaka or Suttanta Pitaka cf Sanskrit सूत्र पिटक Sutra Pitaka) is the second of the three divisions of the Tipitaka or In sramanic philosophy Nirvana (निर्वाण| Nirvāṇa; निब्बान Nibbāna; Prakrit: णिव्वाण As time went on, a backstory was provided for the multi-life development of the Buddha; as a result, the ten perfections were identified as part of the path for the Buddha-to-be (Pali: bodhisatta; Sanskrit: bodhisattva). In Narratology, a back-story (also back story or backstory) is the history behind the situation extant at the start of the main story Rebirth in Buddhism is the doctrine that the consciousness of a person (as conventionally regarded upon the death or dissolution of the aggregates ( Skandhas Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder In the Buddhist context a bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व bodhisattva;; Vietnamese Bồ Tát; बोधिसत्त bodhisatta In the Buddhist context a bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व bodhisattva;; Vietnamese Bồ Tát; बोधिसत्त bodhisatta Over subsequent centuries, the paramis were seen as being significant to both aspirants of Buddhahood and of arahantship. In the sramanic traditions of ancient India (most notably those of Mahavira and Gautama Buddha) arhat ( Sanskrit) or arahant Thus, Bodhi (2005) summarizes:

"It should be noted that in established Theravāda tradition the pāramīs are not regarded as a discipline peculiar to candidates for Buddhahood alone but as practices which must be fulfilled by all aspirants to enlightenment and deliverance, whether as Buddhas, paccekabuddhas, or disciples. In Buddhism, buddhahood ( Sanskrit: buddhatva. Pali: buddhatta. A Pratyekabuddha ( Sanskrit) or Paccekabuddha ( Pāli) literally "a lone buddha ", "a buddha on their own" or "a Buddhist references In Nikaya Buddhism, sāvaka ( m) or sāvikā ( f What distinguishes the supreme bodhisattva from aspirants in the other two vehicles is the degree to which the pāramīs must be cultivated and the length of time they must be pursued. But the qualities themselves are universal requisites for deliverance, which all must fulfill to at least a minimal degree to merit the fruits of the liberating path. "^[7]

The Paramitas in Mahayana Buddhism

In Mahayana Buddhism, the Lotus Sutra (Saddharmapundarika), lists the Six Perfections as (original terms in Sanskrit):

1. Dāna paramita: generosity, giving of oneself (in Chinese, 布施波羅蜜; in Wylie Tibetan, sbyin pa)
2. Śīla paramita : virtue, morality, discipline, proper conduct (持戒波羅蜜; tshul khrims)
3. Kṣānti (kshanti) paramita : patience, tolerance, forbearance, acceptance, endurance (忍辱波羅蜜, bzod pa)
4. Vīrya paramita : energy, diligence, vigour, effort (精進波羅蜜, brtson ’grus)
5. Dhyāna paramita : one-pointed concentration, contemplation (禪定波羅蜜, bsam gtan)
6. Prajñā paramita : wisdom, insight (智慧波羅蜜, shes rab)

Note that this list is also mentioned by the Theravada commentator Dhammapala, who says it is equivalent to the above list of ten. Mahayana ( Sanskrit: mahāyāna, Devanagari: महायान 'Great Vehicle' is one of the two main existing schools of Buddhism and a term for The Lotus Sutra or Sutra on the White Lotus of the Sublime Dharma (Sanskrit sa सद्धर्मपुण्डरीकसूत्र Saddharma Bodhisattva and the Art of Giving The quality of giving is one of the virtues perfected over numerous lifetimes by Shakyamuni Buddha in his Bodhisattva The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating the Tibetan script using the keys on a typical English language Typewriter. Kshanti or kṣanti ( Skt) or khanti ( Pali) has been translated as patience forbearance and forgiveness See also Bodhipakkhiya dhamma (Qualities conducive to Enlightenment Four Right Exertions Five Faculties Dhyāna in Hinduism See also Dhyana in Hinduism In Hinduism dhyana is considered to be an instrument to gain self knowledge separating maya from In the Pali Canon In the Pali Canon, paññā is defined in a variety of overlapping ways frequently centering on concentrated insight See also Dharmapala (disambiguation Dhammapala was the name of at least two great Theravada Buddhist commentators ^[8]

In the Ten Stages (Dasabhumika) Sutra, four more Paramitas are listed:

7. Upāya paramita: skillful means

8. Upaya ( Sanskrit: उपाय "Expedient Means" is a term in Mahayana Buddhism which comes from the word upa√i and refers to something Praṇidhāna (pranidhana) paramita: vow, resolution, aspiration, determination

9. Bala paramita: spiritual power

10. Translation Pañca (Sanskrit Pali means "five" Bala (Sanskrit Pali means "power" "strength" "force Jñāna paramita: knowledge

Paramitas in Vajrayana

Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche renders "paramita" into English as "transcendent action" and then frames and qualifies it:

When we say that paramita means "transcendent action," we mean it in the sense that actions or attitude are performed in a non-egocentric manner. Jñāna (also spelled Gñāna; Devanagari ज्ञान is the Sanskrit term for Knowledge or Philosophy. The Ninth Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche is the current incarnation of the Traleg tulku line a line of high lamas in the Kagyu lineage of Vajrayana "Transcendental" does not refer to some external reality, but rather to the way in which we conduct our lives and perceive the world - either in an egocentric or a non-egocentric way. The six paramitas are concerned with the effort to step out of the egocentric mentality. ^[9]

Keown, et. al. (2003) hold that the Six Perfections (Sanskrit: ṣad-pāramitā) comprise the Gyulü. Gyulü or Yoga of the Illusory Body is a powerful spiritual modality and psychological practice and technique ^[10]

Notes

Sources

• Bodhi, Bhikkhu (1978). Bhikkhu Bodhi (b 1944 NYC) born Jeffrey Block, is an American Buddhist monk, ordained in Sri Lanka and currently teaching in the The All-Embracing Net of Views. Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society. The Buddhist Publication Society is a charity whose goal is to explain and spread the doctrine of the Buddha.
• Bodhi, Bhikkhu (ed. ) (1978, 2005). A Treatise on the Paramis: From the Commentary to the Cariyapitaka by Acariya Dhammapala (The Wheel, No. 409/411). Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society. The Buddhist Publication Society is a charity whose goal is to explain and spread the doctrine of the Buddha. Retrieved 30 Jun 2007 from "Access to Insight" at http://accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/wheel409.html.
• Rhys Davids, T. Thomas William Rhys Davids ( May 12, 1843 - December 27, 1922) was a British scholar of the Pāli language and founder of W. & William Stede (eds. ) (1921-5). The Pali Text Society’s Pali–English Dictionary. Chipstead: Pali Text Society. The Pali Text Society was founded in 1881 by TW Rhys Davids "to foster and promote the study of Pali texts" A general on-line search engine for the PED is available at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/pali/.

See also

• Pañca-Parameṣṭhi

External links

• Compassion and Bodhicitta
• Renunciation by T. Prince, a free distribution article on the Buddhist conception of renunciation
• A Tibetan view of the Six Perfections
• Lama Zopa Rinpoche's view of the Six Perfections
• A Zen view of the Six Perfections
• Six paramitas, Chinese Buddhist website

The Pañca-Parameṣṭhi ( Sanskrit for "fivefold superiority" in Jainism are a five-fold hierarchy of religious authorities worthy of veneration

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