Level 4: 6 Perfections

A paramita is a perfectly embodied quality or characteristic of a bodhisattva. This includes generosity, ethical self-discipline, patience, joyful effort, concentration and wisdom. With practice, we too can embody such qualities, benefiting both ourselves and others.

The six perfections, or paramitas, of Mahayana Buddhism are generosity (dana), ethical self-discipline (sila), patience (kshanti), joyful effort (virya), meditation (dhyana) and wisdom (prajna). To embody these characteristics is to take on the qualities of an enlightened being.

In Buddhism, we do not practice ethics in the hope of an end-of-life reward, but with a deep understanding that such discipline is key to a contented, happy life. When we minimize harming, we feel better about ourselves, our relationships improve, and we accumulate the merit that leads to a deep understanding of why and how. We experience the connection between wisdom and compassion.

In Buddhism, diligence (virya) is the practice of conserving our energy and applying our efforts to the things that will benefit both ourselves and others most profoundly. For example, we take joy in our meditation practice, refraining from harmful actions and studying the core teachings on Buddhism. We do so out of the understanding that these are the things that will lead us and all beings to freedom.