Paramitas (Perfections, Virtues, Character Traits) of a Buddhist

Research by Michael P. Garofalo

The Librarian of Gushen Grove
Valley Spirit Center, Red Bluff, California

Bibliography, Links, Resources
Ten Paramitas (Dasa Paramiyo) or Six Paramitas

Buddha Is as Buddha Does: The Ten Original Practices for Enlightened Living By Lama Surya Das. HarperOne, Reprint Edition, 2007. 288 pages. ISBN: 0060859539. VSCL, 8/2012.

Kindness and the Heart in Yoga

Living Kindness: The Buddha's Ten Guiding Principles for a Blessed Life By Donald Altman. Oregon City, Oregon, Moon Lake Media, 2003. Bibliography, notes, 230 pages. ISBN: 0963916165. VSCL, 9/2012.

The Mind of Clover: Essays in Zen Buddhist Ethics By Robert Aitken. North Point Press, 1984. 202 pages. ISBN: 0865471584. VSCL.

The Practice of Perfection: The Paramitas from a Zen Buddhist Perspective By Robert Aitken. Counterpoint Press, 1997. 240 pages. ISBN: 1887178406.

The Six Perfections: Buddhism and the Cultivation of Character By Dale S. Wright. Oxford, England, Oxford University Press, Reprint Edition, 2009. Notes, bibliography, 292 pages. ISBN: 0199895791. VSCL, 8/2012.

The Six Perfections Commentary by Geshe Sonam Rinchen. Translated and edited by Ruth Sonam. Ithaca, New York, Snow Lion Publications, 1998. Notes, 158 pages. ISBN: 1559390891. VSCL, 9/2012.

The Way of the Bodhisattva By Shantideva. A translation of the Bodhicharyāvatāra. Revised Edition. Translated from the Tibetan by the Padmakara Translation Group. Boston, MA, Shambhala, 2008. Bibliography, notes, 361 pages. ISBN: 9781590306147. Shantideva was an 8th century Indian Buddhist scholar at Nalanda University. VSCL, 9/2012.

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Quotations
The Ten Paramitas, Six Paramitas, Four Immersurables

"Rahula, practice loving kindness to overcome anger. Loving kindness has the capacity to bring happiness to others without demanding anything in return.
Practice compassion to overcome cruelty. Compassion has the capacity to remove the suffering of others without expecting anything in return.
Practice sympathetic joy to overcome hatred. Sympathetic joy arises when one rejoices over the happiness of others and wishes others well-being and success.
Practice non-attachment to overcome prejudice. Non-attachment is the way of looking at all things openly and equally. This is because that is. Myself and others are not separate. Do not reject one thing only to chase after another.
I call these the four immeasurables. Practice them and you will become a refreshing source of vitality and happiness for others."
- The Buddha

"The Large Sutra on Perfect Wisdom claims that the Six Perfections are "bases for training." This means that they constitute a series of practices or "trainings" that guide practitioners toward the goal of enlightenment or awakening. These six "trainings" are the means or methods to that all-important end. But the perfections are much more than techniques. The are also the most fundamental dimensions of the goal of enlightenment. Enlightenment is defined in terms of these six qualities of human character; together they constitute the essential qualities of that ideal human state. The perfections, therefore, are the ideal, not just the means to it. Being generous, morally aware, tolerant, energetic, meditative, and wise is what it means for a Buddhist to be enlightened. If perfection in these six dimensions of human character is the goal, the enlightenment, understood in this Buddhist sense, would also be closely correlate to these particular practices. Recognizing this, one sutra says, "Enlightenment jus is the path and the path is enlightenment.: To be moving along the path of self-cultivation by developing the Six Perfections is the very meaning of "enlightenment.""
- Dale S. Wright, The Six Perfections, p. 4

"Here, monks, a disciple dwells pervading one direction with his heart filled with loving-kindness, likewise the second, the third, and the fourth direction; so above, below and around; he dwells pervading the entire world everywhere and equally with his heart filled with loving-kindness, abundant, grown great, measureless, free from enmity and free from distress.

Here, monks, a disciple dwells pervading one direction with his heart filled with compassion, likewise the second, the third and the fourth direction; so above, below and around; he dwells pervading the entire world everywhere and equally with his heart filled with compassion, abundant, grown great, measureless, free from enmity and free from distress.

Here, monks, a disciple dwells pervading one direction with his heart filled with sympathetic joy, likewise the second, the third and the fourth direction; so above, below and around; he dwells pervading the entire world everywhere and equally with his heart filled with sympathetic joy, abundant, grown great, measureless, free from enmity and free from distress.

Here, monks, a disciple dwells pervading one direction with his heart filled with equanimity, likewise the second, the third and the fourth direction; so above, below and around; he dwells pervading the entire world everywhere and equally with his heart filled with equanimity, abundant, grown great, measureless, free from enmity and free from distress."
- The Buddha, from the Buddhist Scripture Digha Nikaya 13

"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.

Introduction Bibliography Links Quotations

Generosity (Dāna) Will Power (Adhihāna) Kindness (Metta)

Wisdom (Panna) Morality (Sila) Mindfulness (Sati)

Equanimity (Upekkha) Truthfulness (Sacca) Energy (Viriya)

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