The Ten Paramitas: The Perfections of the Bodhisattva

The Ten Paramitas

The paramitas (perfections) are the qualities that a bodhisattva cultivates.

The 6 Basic Paramitas

1. Dana (Generosity)
2. Sila (Ethics)
3. Ksanti (Patience)
4. Virya (Energy)
5. Dhyana (Meditation)
6. Prajna (Wisdom)

The 4 Additional Paramitas

1. Upaya (Skillful Means)
2. Pranidhana (Vow)
3. Bala (Power)
4. Jnana (Knowledge)

Practice of the Paramitas

The paramitas are cultivated in everyday life, not in isolation.

The Bodhisattva and the Paramitas

The bodhisattva practices the paramitas to help all beings.

The 3 Stages of Each Paramita

According to Tibetan tradition, each paramita is cultivated in three stages.

Sources

• Santideva: Bodhicharyavatara
• The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism