"The Six Perfections, or paramitas, are guides for Mahayana Buddhist practice. They are virtues to be cultivated to strengthen practice and bring one to enlightenment. The Six Perfections describe the true nature of an enlightened being, which is to say they are our own true nature. If they don't seem to be our true nature, it is because the perfections are obscured by our delusion, anger, greed, and fear. By cultivating these perfections we bring this true nature into expression. There are three different lists of paramitas in Buddhism. The Ten Paramitas of Theravada Buddhism were gleaned from several sources, including the Jataka Tales. Mahayana Buddhism took a list of Six Paramitas from several Mahayana Sutras, including the Lotus Sutra and the Large Sutra on the Perfection of Wisdom (Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita). In the latter text, for example, a disciple asks the Buddha, "How many bases for training are there for those seeking enlightenment?" The Buddha replied, "There are six: generosity, morality, patience, energy, meditation, and wisdom." Prominent early commentaries on the Six Perfections can be found in Arya Sura's Paramitasamasa (ca. 3rd century CE) and Shantideva's Bodhicaryavatara ("Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life," 8th century CE). Later, Mahayana Buddhists would add four more perfections -- skillful means (upaya), aspiration, spiritual power, and knowledge -- to make a list of ten. But the original list of six seems to be more common."
- Barbara O'Brien

"The Sanskrit word pāramitā has numerous meanings. 1. Derived from the words pāram meaning "the other side" and the past participle ita "gone", meaning "gone on to the other side," or "crossed over to the other side," or "become a changed person." 2.  The word pārama which means "excellent," "supreme," "highest, "best." 3. A Buddhist technical term meaning the highest character traits associated with an enlightened heart-mind, practices for becoming enlightened, the virtues of a Bodhisattva."