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The Ten Perfections - List

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The ten perfections are Buddhist teachings that are useful for bringing the path of awakening into everyday life.

The Ten Perfections - ListThe Ten Perfections - ListThe Ten Perfections - ListThe Ten Perfections - List
The Ten Perfections - List

The paramitas or perfections appear in Buddhist literature as a group of perfections in varying lists, but the lists are notoriously unfixed, with six and ten perfections being the most common amount. The Mahayana tradition recognizes ten which are the ones listed below.
Theravada tradition includes Dana, Sila, Khanti, Virya, Panna replacing the others with;
The perfection of truth. (sacca pāramī),
The perfection of renunciation. (nekhamma pāramī), which involves letting go of holding back. What one is renouncing is closing down and shutting off from life, open up to the teachings of the present moment.
The perfection of goodwill (metta pāramī).
The perfection of determination or resolution. (adhiṭṭhāna pāramī).
The perfection of equanimity, or serenity (upekkhā pāramī).

The Ten Perfections

01. The perfection of giving, charity or generosity. (dāna paramita)

Paired with śīla, this is also part of the six perfections.
This is an acknowledgment that we inter exist with each other, without attaching to possessions or to ourselves we live to benefit all beings with our generosity.

02.The perfection of virtue, morality or ethical self-discipline. (śīla paramita)

Paired with dāna, this is also part of the six perfections and touches on the teachings of Karma.
Apply my body, speech, and mind to virtue to living in harmony with others.

03. The perfection of patience. (kṣānti paramita)

The practice of all the bodhisattvas is to cultivate patience, to be unaffected and to withstand free from any trace of animosity towards anyone at all, since any potential source of harm is like a priceless treasure to the bodhisattva who is eager to enjoy a wealth of virtue.
It is a patience with both ourselves and others and giving us the ability ability to bear hardship and misfortune.
Paired with vīrya, this is also part of the six perfections.

04. The perfection of persistence or energy. (vīrya paramita)

Virya or vira meaning hero is about tirelessly and courageously overcoming obstacles and walking the path as far as it goes.
Paired with kṣānti, this is also part of the six perfections.

05. The perfection of equanimity, meditation or mental stability/concentration. (dhyāna paramita)

Meditation, calm and composure is mental cultivation, preparing the mind to realize wisdom.
Paired with prajñā, this is also part of the six perfections.

06. The perfection of discernment, discrimination, wisdom, non delusion or discriminating awareness. (prajñā paramita, Amoha or Panna)

Discernment is a distinct mental factor that has the function to distinguish “It is this and not that” and to apprehend the characteristics of the object. It differentiates and identifies objects.
Prajñā is the remedy for Moha which are delusions and confusion.
All phenomena are without self-essence.
Paired with dhyāna, this is also part of the six perfections.

07. The perfection of skilful means (upaya kausalya, upaya paramita)

Upaya is any teaching or activity that helps others realize enlightenment. Sometimes upaya is spelled upaya-kausalya, which is skill in means. One skilled in upaya can lead others away from their delusions.

08. The perfection of aspiration or the vow (Pranidhana paramita).

The perfection of aspiration it is about dedicating oneself to the bodhisattva path and living the bodhisattva vows.

09. The perfection of spiritual power. (bala paramita)

Spiritual power in this sense could refer to supernormal powers, such as an ability to read minds. Or, it could refer to the natural powers awakened by spiritual practice, such as increasing concentration, awareness and patience.

10. The perfection of knowledge (jnana paramita)

The Perfection of Knowledge is the implementation of wisdom in the phenomenal world. We can think of this as something like the way a physician uses knowledge of medicine to heal people. This Perfection also ties together the previous nine so that they can be put to work to help others.

Synonyms/tags: 10 paramitas, daśapāramitā




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