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The term Paramita or Parami (Sanskrit
Sanskrit

Sanskrit is a historical Indo-Aryan language, one of the liturgical languages of Hinduism and Buddhism, and one of the 22 official languages of India....
 and Pali
Páli

P?li is a village in Gyor-Moson-Sopron county, Hungary.External links...
 respectively) means "Perfect" or "Perfection". In Buddhism
Buddhism

Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices considered by most to be a religionand is based on the teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as "The Buddha" , who was born in what is today Nepal....
, the Paramitas refer to the perfection or culmination of certain virtues. In Buddhism, these virtues are cultivated as a way of purification, purifying karma
Karma

Karma is the concept of "action" or "deed" in Indian religions understood as that which causes the entire cycle of causality originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhism philosophies....
 and helping the aspirant to live an unobstructed life, while reaching the goal of Enlightenment
Bodhi

Bodhi is both the Pali and Sanskrit word traditionally translated into English language as "enlightenment." The word "Buddhahood" means "one who has achieved bodhi." Bodhi is also frequently translated as "awakening."...
.

lass="link1" onMouseover='showByLink("m1494032",this)' onMouseout='hide("m1494032")'href="http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Theravada">Theravada
Theravada

Theravada...
 Buddhism
Buddhism

Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices considered by most to be a religionand is based on the teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as "The Buddha" , who was born in what is today Nepal....
's teachings on the paramitas can be found in late canonical
Pali Canon

The Pali Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhism tradition, as preserved in the Pali. It is the only completely surviving Early Buddhist schools canon, and one of the first to be written down....
 books and post-canonical commentaries
Atthakatha

Atthakatha refers to Pali-language Theravada commentaries to the canonical Theravadin Tipitaka. These commentaries give the traditional interpretations of the scriptures....
.

he Pali Canon
Pali Canon

The Pali Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhism tradition, as preserved in the Pali. It is the only completely surviving Early Buddhist schools canon, and one of the first to be written down....
's Buddhavamsa
Buddhavamsa

The Buddhavamsa is a Buddhist scripture, part of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. It is included there in the Sutta Pitaka's Khuddaka Nikaya....
 the Ten Perfections (dasa paramiyo) are (original terms in Pali):

  1. Dana
    Dana

    Dana may refer to:...
     parami     : generosity, giving of oneself
  2. Sila
    Sila

    Sila or sila is usually rendered into English as "virtue"; other translations include "good conduct," "morality" "moral discipline." and "precept." It is an action that is an intentional effort....
     parami     : virtue, morality, proper conduct
  3. Nekkhamma
    Nekkhamma

    Nekkhamma is a Pali word generally translated as "renunciation" while also conveying more specifically "giving up the world and leading a holy life" or "freedom from lust, craving and desires." In Buddhism's Noble Eightfold Path, nekkhamma is the first practice associated with "Right Intention." In the Theravada list of ten Paramita...
     parami     : renunciation
  4. Pañña
    Panna

    Panna can refer to:* Aam panna, an Indian drink made from mangoes* Panna, India, a city in the state of Madhya Pradesh* Panna , a genus of fish in the family Sciaenidae...
     parami     : transcendental wisdom, insight
  5. Viriya (also spelt viriya) parami : energy, diligence, vigour, effort
  6. Khanti parami : patience, tolerance, forbearance, acceptance, endurance
  7. Sacca
    Sacca

    Sacca is a Pali word meaning "real" or "true." In early Buddhism literature, sacca is often found in the context of the "Four Noble Truths," a crystallization of Buddhist wisdom....
     parami     : truthfulness, honesty
  8. (adhitthana) parami : determination, resolution
  9. Metta
    Metta

    Metta or maitri has been translated as "loving-kindness," "friendliness," "benevolence," "amity," "friendship," "good will," "kindness," "love," "sympathy," and "active interest in others." It is one of the ten paramita of the Theravada Schools of Buddhism, and the first of the four Brahmavihara....
     parami     : loving-kindness
  10. Upekkha (also spelt upekha) parami : equanimity, serenity


Two of the above virtues, Metta
Metta

Metta or maitri has been translated as "loving-kindness," "friendliness," "benevolence," "amity," "friendship," "good will," "kindness," "love," "sympathy," and "active interest in others." It is one of the ten paramita of the Theravada Schools of Buddhism, and the first of the four Brahmavihara....
 and Upekkha, also comprise two of the Four Immeasurables (Brahmavihara
Brahmavihara

The four Brahmaviharas are a series of virtues and Buddhism meditation practices designed to cultivate those virtues. Brahmavihara is a term in Pali and Sanskrit meaning ?Brahma abidings?, or "Sublime attitudes." They are also known as the Four Immeasurables ....
).

Historicity
The Theravadin teachings on paramitas can be found in canonical books (Jataka
Jataka

The Jataka Tales also known in other languages refer to a voluminous body of folklore-like literature native to India concerning the previous births of the Gotama Buddha....
, Apadana
Apadana

The Apadana is a collection of biographical stories found in the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Pali Canon, the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. It is thought by most scholars to be a late addition to the canon, composed during the 1st and 2nd century BCE....
, Buddhavamsa
Buddhavamsa

The Buddhavamsa is a Buddhist scripture, part of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. It is included there in the Sutta Pitaka's Khuddaka Nikaya....
, Cariyapitaka
Cariyapitaka

The Cariyapitaka is a Buddhist scripture, part of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. It is included there in the Sutta Pitaka's Khuddaka Nikaya, usually as the last of fifteen books....
) and post-canonical commentaries
Atthakatha

Atthakatha refers to Pali-language Theravada commentaries to the canonical Theravadin Tipitaka. These commentaries give the traditional interpretations of the scriptures....
 which were added to the Pali Canon
Pali Canon

The Pali Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhism tradition, as preserved in the Pali. It is the only completely surviving Early Buddhist schools canon, and one of the first to be written down....
 at a later time, and thus they are not an original part of the Theravadin teachings.






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Encyclopedia


The term Paramita or Parami (Sanskrit
Sanskrit

Sanskrit is a historical Indo-Aryan language, one of the liturgical languages of Hinduism and Buddhism, and one of the 22 official languages of India....
 and Pali
Páli

P?li is a village in Gyor-Moson-Sopron county, Hungary.External links...
 respectively) means "Perfect" or "Perfection". In Buddhism
Buddhism

Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices considered by most to be a religionand is based on the teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as "The Buddha" , who was born in what is today Nepal....
, the Paramitas refer to the perfection or culmination of certain virtues. In Buddhism, these virtues are cultivated as a way of purification, purifying karma
Karma

Karma is the concept of "action" or "deed" in Indian religions understood as that which causes the entire cycle of causality originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhism philosophies....
 and helping the aspirant to live an unobstructed life, while reaching the goal of Enlightenment
Bodhi

Bodhi is both the Pali and Sanskrit word traditionally translated into English language as "enlightenment." The word "Buddhahood" means "one who has achieved bodhi." Bodhi is also frequently translated as "awakening."...
.

Theravada Buddhism

Theravada
Theravada

Theravada...
 Buddhism
Buddhism

Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices considered by most to be a religionand is based on the teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as "The Buddha" , who was born in what is today Nepal....
's teachings on the paramitas can be found in late canonical
Pali Canon

The Pali Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhism tradition, as preserved in the Pali. It is the only completely surviving Early Buddhist schools canon, and one of the first to be written down....
 books and post-canonical commentaries
Atthakatha

Atthakatha refers to Pali-language Theravada commentaries to the canonical Theravadin Tipitaka. These commentaries give the traditional interpretations of the scriptures....
.

Canonical sources

In the Pali Canon
Pali Canon

The Pali Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhism tradition, as preserved in the Pali. It is the only completely surviving Early Buddhist schools canon, and one of the first to be written down....
's Buddhavamsa
Buddhavamsa

The Buddhavamsa is a Buddhist scripture, part of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. It is included there in the Sutta Pitaka's Khuddaka Nikaya....
 the Ten Perfections (dasa paramiyo) are (original terms in Pali):

  1. Dana
    Dana

    Dana may refer to:...
     parami     : generosity, giving of oneself
  2. Sila
    Sila

    Sila or sila is usually rendered into English as "virtue"; other translations include "good conduct," "morality" "moral discipline." and "precept." It is an action that is an intentional effort....
     parami     : virtue, morality, proper conduct
  3. Nekkhamma
    Nekkhamma

    Nekkhamma is a Pali word generally translated as "renunciation" while also conveying more specifically "giving up the world and leading a holy life" or "freedom from lust, craving and desires." In Buddhism's Noble Eightfold Path, nekkhamma is the first practice associated with "Right Intention." In the Theravada list of ten Paramita...
     parami     : renunciation
  4. Pañña
    Panna

    Panna can refer to:* Aam panna, an Indian drink made from mangoes* Panna, India, a city in the state of Madhya Pradesh* Panna , a genus of fish in the family Sciaenidae...
     parami     : transcendental wisdom, insight
  5. Viriya (also spelt viriya) parami : energy, diligence, vigour, effort
  6. Khanti parami : patience, tolerance, forbearance, acceptance, endurance
  7. Sacca
    Sacca

    Sacca is a Pali word meaning "real" or "true." In early Buddhism literature, sacca is often found in the context of the "Four Noble Truths," a crystallization of Buddhist wisdom....
     parami     : truthfulness, honesty
  8. (adhitthana) parami : determination, resolution
  9. Metta
    Metta

    Metta or maitri has been translated as "loving-kindness," "friendliness," "benevolence," "amity," "friendship," "good will," "kindness," "love," "sympathy," and "active interest in others." It is one of the ten paramita of the Theravada Schools of Buddhism, and the first of the four Brahmavihara....
     parami     : loving-kindness
  10. Upekkha (also spelt upekha) parami : equanimity, serenity


Two of the above virtues, Metta
Metta

Metta or maitri has been translated as "loving-kindness," "friendliness," "benevolence," "amity," "friendship," "good will," "kindness," "love," "sympathy," and "active interest in others." It is one of the ten paramita of the Theravada Schools of Buddhism, and the first of the four Brahmavihara....
 and Upekkha, also comprise two of the Four Immeasurables (Brahmavihara
Brahmavihara

The four Brahmaviharas are a series of virtues and Buddhism meditation practices designed to cultivate those virtues. Brahmavihara is a term in Pali and Sanskrit meaning ?Brahma abidings?, or "Sublime attitudes." They are also known as the Four Immeasurables ....
).

Historicity


The Theravadin teachings on paramitas can be found in canonical books (Jataka
Jataka

The Jataka Tales also known in other languages refer to a voluminous body of folklore-like literature native to India concerning the previous births of the Gotama Buddha....
, Apadana
Apadana

The Apadana is a collection of biographical stories found in the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Pali Canon, the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. It is thought by most scholars to be a late addition to the canon, composed during the 1st and 2nd century BCE....
, Buddhavamsa
Buddhavamsa

The Buddhavamsa is a Buddhist scripture, part of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. It is included there in the Sutta Pitaka's Khuddaka Nikaya....
, Cariyapitaka
Cariyapitaka

The Cariyapitaka is a Buddhist scripture, part of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. It is included there in the Sutta Pitaka's Khuddaka Nikaya, usually as the last of fifteen books....
) and post-canonical commentaries
Atthakatha

Atthakatha refers to Pali-language Theravada commentaries to the canonical Theravadin Tipitaka. These commentaries give the traditional interpretations of the scriptures....
 which were added to the Pali Canon
Pali Canon

The Pali Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhism tradition, as preserved in the Pali. It is the only completely surviving Early Buddhist schools canon, and one of the first to be written down....
 at a later time, and thus they are not an original part of the Theravadin teachings. The oldest parts of the Sutta Pitaka
Sutta Pitaka

The Sutta Pitaka is the second of the three divisions of the Tipitaka or Pali Canon, the great Pali collection of Buddhist texts, the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism....
 (for example, Majjhima Nikaya
Majjhima Nikaya

The Majjhima Nikaya is a Buddhist scripture, the second of the five nikayas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka, which is one of the "three baskets" that compose the Pali Tipitaka of Theravada Buddhism....
, Digha Nikaya
Digha Nikaya

The Digha Nikaya is a Buddhism scripture, the first of the five nikayas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka, which is one of the "three baskets" that compose the Pali Tipitaka of Theravada Buddhism....
, Samyutta Nikaya
Samyutta Nikaya

The Samyutta Nikaya is a Buddhist scripture, the third of the five nikayas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka, which is one of the "three baskets" that compose the Pali Tipitaka of Theravada Buddhism....
 and the Anguttara Nikaya
Anguttara Nikaya

The Anguttara Nikaya is a Buddhist scripture, the fourth of the five nikayas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka, which is one of the "three baskets" that comprise the Pali Tipitaka of Theravada Buddhism....
) do not have any mention of the paramitas. Some scholars even refer to the teachings of the paramitas as a semi-Mahayana 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.

Traditional practice


Bodhi (2005) maintains that, in the earliest Buddhist texts (which he identifies as the first four nikayas
Sutta Pitaka

The Sutta Pitaka is the second of the three divisions of the Tipitaka or Pali Canon, the great Pali collection of Buddhist texts, the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism....
), those seeking suffering's extinction (nibbana
Nirvana

In sramana thought, Nirvana is the state of being free from both dukkha and the cycle of rebirth. It is an important concept in Buddhism and Jainism....
) pursued the Noble Eightfold Path
Noble Eightfold Path

The Noble Eightfold Path is one of the principal Dharma of Gautama Buddha, who described it as the way leading to the cessation of suffering and the achievement of self-awakening....
. As time went on, a backstory was provided for the multi-life
Rebirth (Buddhism)

Rebirth in Buddhism is the doctrine that the Consciousness of a person , upon the death or dissolution of the aggregates which make up that person, becomes one of the contributing causes for the arising of a new group of skandhas which may again be conventionally considered a person or individual....
 development of the Buddha
Gautama Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama was a Spirituality teacher in the northern region of the Indian subcontinent who founded Buddhism. He is generally seen by Buddhists as the Supreme Buddhahood of our age....
; as a result, the ten perfections were identified as part of the path for the Buddha-to-be (Pali: bodhisatta; Sanskrit: bodhisattva
Bodhisattva

In the Buddhist context, a bodhisattva means either "enlightened existence " or "enlightenment-being" or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, "heroic-minded one for enlightenment "....
). Over subsequent centuries, the paramis were seen as being significant to both aspirants of Buddhahood and of arahantship
Arhat

In the shramana traditions of ancient India arhat or arahant signified a spiritual practitioner who had?to use an expression common in the tipitaka?"laid down the burden"?and realised the goal of nirvana, the culmination of the spiritual life ....
. Thus, Bodhi (2005) summarizes:
"It should be noted that in established Theravada tradition the paramis 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
Sravaka

Sravaka or Shravaka or Savaka means "a hearer" or, more generally, "disciple."This term is used by both Buddhists and Jains. In Jainism, a shravaka is any lay Jain....
. What distinguishes the supreme bodhisattva from aspirants in the other two vehicles is the degree to which the paramis 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."


Mahayana Buddhism


In Mahayana
Mahayana

Mahayana is one of the two main existing schools of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophy and practice. It was History of Buddhism in India....
 Buddhism, the Lotus Sutra
Lotus Sutra

The Lotus Sutra or Sutra on the White Sacred lotus of the Sublime Dharma is one of the most popular and influential Mahayana sutras in Asia and the basis on which the Tien Tai and Nichiren Buddhism sects of Buddhism were established....
 (Saddharmapundarika), lists the Six Perfections as (original terms in Sanskrit):

  1. Dana
    Dana

    Dana may refer to:...
     paramita: generosity, giving of oneself (in Chinese, ?????; in Wylie Tibetan
    Wylie transliteration

    The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliteration the Tibetan script using only the letters available on a typical English language typewriter....
    , sbyin pa)
  2. Sila
    Sila

    Sila or sila is usually rendered into English as "virtue"; other translations include "good conduct," "morality" "moral discipline." and "precept." It is an action that is an intentional effort....
     paramita     : virtue, morality, discipline, proper conduct (?????; tshul khrims)
  3. Kshanti

    Kshanti or or khanti has been translated as patience, forbearance and forgiveness. It is one of the practices of perfection of both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism....
     (kshanti) paramita     : patience, tolerance, forbearance, acceptance, endurance (?????, bzod pa)
  4. Virya
    Virya

    Virya is a Sanskrit word which can be translated into English as "effort," "vigor," "diligence," "zeal, and "energy."In Buddhism, virya is one of the five controlling faculties , one of the five powers , one of the six or ten paramitas, one of the seven factors of enlightenment and is identical with right effort of the Noble Eightfold...
     paramita     : energy, diligence, vigour, effort (?????, brtson ’grus)
  5. Dhyana
    Dhyana

    Dhyana or jhana in Pali refers to a stage of meditation, which is a subset of samadhi. It is a key concept in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism....
     paramita     : one-pointed concentration, contemplation (?????, bsam gtan)
  6. Prajña
    Prajña

    Praj?a or pa??a has been translated as "wisdom," "understanding," "discernment," "cognitive acuity," or "know-how." In some sects of Buddhism, it especially refers to the wisdom that is based on the direct realization of the Four Noble Truths, anicca, interdependent origination, anatta, shunyata, etc....
     paramita     : wisdom, insight (?????, shes rab)


Note that this list is also mentioned by the Theravada commentator Dhammapala
Dhammapala

Dhammapala was the name of at least two great Theravada Buddhism commentators. One who lived at the Badara Tittha Vihara, near the east coast of India, just a little south of where Chennai now stands, wrote the atthakatha on seven of the shorter canonical books, consisting almost entirely of verses, and also the commentary on the Netti, perha...
, who says it is equivalent to the above list of ten.

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

7. Upaya
Upaya

Upaya is a term in Mahayana Buddhism which comes from the word upavi and refers to something which goes or brings you up to something . The term is often used with kaushalya ; upaya-kaushalya means roughly "skill in means"....
 paramita: skillful means
8. (pranidhana) paramita: vow, resolution, aspiration, determination
9. Bala paramita: spiritual power
10. Jñana
Jnana

J?ana or g?ana is the Sanskrit term for knowledge or philosophy.In Buddhism, it refers to pure awareness that is free of conceptual encumbrances, and is contrasted with vijnana, which is a moment of 'divided knowing'....
 paramita: knowledge


Vajrayana Buddhism

According to the perspective of Vajrayana
Vajrayana

Vajrayana Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayana, Mantranaya, Mantrayana, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle ....
 Buddhism, Mahayana
Mahayana

Mahayana is one of the two main existing schools of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophy and practice. It was History of Buddhism in India....
 practitioners have the choice of two practice paths: the path of perfection (Sanskrit:paramitayana) or the path of tantra
Tantra

Tantra , or tantram is a religious philosophy according to which Shakti is usually the main deity worshipped, and the universe is regarded as the divine play of shakti and shiva....
 (Sanskrit:tantrayana), which is the Vajrayana.

Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche
Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche

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. He is a pioneer in bringing Tibetan Buddhism to Australia....
 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. "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.


Keown, et. al. (2003) hold that the Six Perfections (Sanskrit: ?ad-paramita) comprise the Gyulü
Gyulu

Gyul? or Yoga of the Illusory Body is a powerful spiritual modality and psychological practice and technique. Gyulu or Gyuma comprises one of the Six Yogas....
.

Sources

  • Bodhi, Bhikkhu
    Bhikkhu Bodhi

    Bhikkhu Bodhi , born Jeffrey Block, is an American Buddhist monk, ordained in Sri Lanka and currently teaching in the New York/New Jersey area....
     (1978). The All-Embracing Net of Views. Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society
    Buddhist Publication Society

    The Buddhist Publication Society is a charity whose goal is to explain and spread the dhamma of the Gautama Buddha. It was founded in Sri Lanka in 1958 by two Sri Lankan Buddhist laymen, A.S....
    .
  • 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
    Buddhist Publication Society

    The Buddhist Publication Society is a charity whose goal is to explain and spread the dhamma of the Gautama Buddha. It was founded in Sri Lanka in 1958 by two Sri Lankan Buddhist laymen, A.S....
    . Retrieved 30 Jun 2007 from "Access to Insight" at http://accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/wheel409.html.
  • Horner, I.B.
    Isaline Blew Horner

    Dr. I.B. Horner was a leading scholar of Pali literature, late president of the Pali Text Society and recipient of the Order of the British Empire ....
     (trans.) (1975; reprinted 2000). The Minor Anthologies of the Pali Canon (Part III): 'Chronicle of Buddhas' (Buddhavamsa) and 'Basket of Conduct' (Cariyapitaka). Oxford: Pali Text Society
    Pali Text Society

    The Pali Text Society was founded in 1881 by Thomas William Rhys Davids "to foster and promote the study of Pali texts".Pali is the language in which the texts of the Theravada school of Buddhism is preserved....
    . ISBN 0-86013-072-X.
  • Rhys Davids, T.W. & William Stede (eds.) (1921-5). The Pali Text Society’s Pali–English Dictionary. Chipstead: Pali Text Society
    Pali Text Society

    The Pali Text Society was founded in 1881 by Thomas William Rhys Davids "to foster and promote the study of Pali texts".Pali is the language in which the texts of the Theravada school of Buddhism is preserved....
    . A general on-line search engine for the PED is available at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/pali/.


See also


External links

  • , a free distribution article on the Buddhist conception of renunciation