The six paramitas, or transcendent perfections, are an essential concept in the practice of Mahayana Buddhism. They are so fundamental in fact that the “Vehicle of the Perfections” is a synonym for Mahayana itself. The Pali or Theravada tradition also includes perfections, referred to as paramis, but a discussion of these is out of the scope of this article.
Traleg Rinpoche in his Essence of Buddhism includes two chapters on the paramitas and introduces them: “If we want to obtain enlightenment by becoming a Bodhisattva, it is necessary to actualize wisdom and compassion. This is done by the practice of what is called the six paramitas, or 'transcendental actions.'
(based on a talk given by angel Kyodo Williams in September 2007 at Center for Urban Peace: New Dharma Community, Berkeley, CA) So welcome. Each of you is here during what is known as the practice period, a 27-day period during which people take on the choice effort of fine-tuning their intentions. Their intentions are to deal with, negotiate or confront an array of matters in their life. There are many things that are part of that, and part of the form is to actually commit, by way of a written document that says these are the things that I choose to address in my life, to the practice period. And those who participate release the intentions, the perfect intentions, which are formulated from the six classic Buddhist paramitas.
(based on a talk given by angel Kyodo Williams in September 2007 at Center for Urban Peace: New Dharma Community, Berkeley, CA) So welcome. Each of you is here during what is known as the practice period, a 27-day period during which people take on the choice effort of fine-tuning their intentions. Their intentions are to deal with, negotiate or confront an array of matters in their life. There are many things that are part of that, and part of the form is to actually commit, by way of a written document that says these are the things that I choose to address in my life, to the practice period. And those who participate release the intentions, the perfect intentions, which are formulated from the six classic Buddhist paramitas.
Read the full essay here: http://transform.transformativechange.org/files/TheSixParamitas.pdf
Read the full essay here: http://transform.transformativechange.org/files/TheSixParamitas.pdf
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