Pāramitā

Pāramitā (Sanskrit) or Parami (Pāli): "Perfection" or "Transcendent". In Buddhism, the Paramitas refer to the perfection or culmination of certain practices. These practices are cultivated by Bodhisattvas for crossing from sensuous life (Samsara) to Enlightenment (Nirvana).

In Theravada Buddhism, the Ten Perfections (Paramis) are; (original terms in Pali)


 * 1) Dāna parami : generosity, giving of oneself
 * 2) Sīla parami : virtue, morality, proper conduct
 * 3) Nekkhamma parami : renunciation
 * 4) Pañña parami : transcendental wisdom, insight
 * 5) Viriya parami : energy, diligence, vigour, effort
 * 6) Khanti parami : patience, tolerance, forbearance, acceptance, endurance
 * 7) Sacca parami : truthfulness, honesty
 * 8) Adhitthana parami : determination, resolution
 * 9) Metta parami : loving-kindness
 * 10) Upekkha parami : equanimity, serenity

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


 * 1) Dāna paramita: generosity, giving of oneself (in Chinese, 布施波羅蜜)
 * 2) Sila paramita : virtue, morality, proper conduct (持戒波羅蜜)
 * 3) Kṣanti paramita : patience, tolerance, forbearance, acceptance, endurance (忍辱波羅蜜)
 * 4) Virya paramita : energy, diligence, vigour, effort (精進波羅蜜)
 * 5) Dhyāna paramita : one-pointed concentration, contemplation (禪定波羅蜜)
 * 6) Prajña paramita : wisdom, insight (智慧波羅蜜)

The later Ten Stages (Dasabhumika) Sutra lists another four;


 * 7. Upāya paramita: skillful means
 * 8. Pranidhana paramita: vow, resolution, aspiration, determination
 * 9. Bala paramita: spiritual power
 * 10. Jñana paramita: knowledge