Six paramitas Page
Image:Bodhisattva.JPG|frame|Bodhisattva [[sangha from the Longchen Nyingtik field of merit]]
The six paramitas or 'transcendent perfections' (Skt. ṣaṭpāramitā; Tib. ཕ་རོལ་ཏུ་ཕྱིན་པ་དྲུག་, parol tu chinpa druk, Wyl. pha rol tu phyin pa drug) comprise the training of a bodhisattva, which is bodhichitta in action.
#Generosity: to cultivate the attitude of generosity.
#Discipline: refraining from harm.
#Patience: the ability not to be perturbed by anything.
#Diligence: to find joy in what is virtuous, positive or wholesome.
#Meditative concentration: not to be distracted.
#Wisdom: the perfect discrimination of phenomena, all knowable things.
The first five paramitas correspond to the accumulation of merit, and the sixth to the accumulation of wisdom. The sixth paramita can be divided into four, resulting in ten paramitas.
Canonical Literature
=Sutras
=
*Fortunate Aeon Sutra[See The Fortunate Aeon: How the Thousand Buddhas Became Enlightened (Berkeley: Dharma Publishing, 1986), Vol. One, pages 97-477.]
*Samdhinirmochana Sutra, chapter 9
*The Sutra of the Question of Subahu
=Shastras
=
The six paramitas are mentioned and explained in many of the most important Indian Mahayana sources, such as
*Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend,
*Chandrakirti’s Introduction to the Middle Way and
*Shantideva’s Bodhicharyavatara.
References
*Dzogchen Rinpoche, London, 19-23 June 1998
*Sogyal Rinpoche, Dzogchen Beara, Ireland, 8 July 2012
Further Reading
*Dzogchen Ponlop, Rebel Buddha (Boston: Shambhala, 2010), pages 124-132.
*Geshe Sonam Rinchen, The Six Perfections, translated by Ruth Sonam (Ithaca: Snow Lion, 1998), ISBN 978-1559390897
*Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang, A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher (Boston & London: Shambhala, 2004), pages 181-219.
*Patrul Rinpoche, The Words of My Perfect Teacher (Boston: Shambhala, Revised edition, 1998), pages 234-261.
*Khenpo Kunzang Palden|Khenpo Kunpal, Drops of Nectar|The Nectar of Manjushri's Speech, translated by Padmakara Translation Group. Published by Shambhala. ISBN 978-1-59030-439-6
*Khenpo Palden Sherab Rinpoche,Ceasless Echoes of the Great Silence, a Commentary on the Heart Sutra. Translated by Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche. Pages 81-96. Published by Sky Dancer Press.
*Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Lazy Lama looks at The Six Paramitas (Bodhicharya Publications, 2021)
*Lama Zopa Rinpoche, The Six Perfection: The Practice of the Bodhisattvas (Wisdom Publications, 2020)
Internal Links
*Ten paramitas
External Links
*[https://www.siddharthasintent.org/resources/recordings/how-bankers-homemakers-and-others-can-practice-the-six-paramitas Teachings on the Six Paramitas by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Hong Kong, 2016]
Category:Key Terms
Category:Bodhichitta
Category:Paramitas
Category:Mahayana
Category:Enumerations
Category:06-Six