Significance of Six Paramita

The Six Paramita in Tibetan Buddhism refers to the six perfections that a Bodhisattva should practice to cultivate essential qualities for enlightenment. These perfections include generosity, ethics (or moral discipline), patience, effort, meditation, and wisdom. They serve as guiding principles for Bodhisattvas in their spiritual development, aiding not only their own quest for enlightenment but also their commitment to help all beings. Mastery of these six perfections is crucial for attaining Buddhahood and crossing the ocean of afflictions.

Synonyms: Six perfections, Six values

The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.

Buddhist concept of 'Six Paramita'

Buddhism Books

The Six Paramita in Buddhism represents essential perfections—generosity, moral discipline, patience, exertion, meditation, and wisdom—practiced by Bodhisattvas to achieve enlightenment and assist others on their spiritual journeys.

Significance in Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism):
Mahayana Books

From: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

(1) The six perfections that bodhisattvas cultivate on their path to enlightenment: generosity, morality, patience, effort, concentration, and wisdom.[1] (2) The six perfections that bodhisattvas practice to cultivate their spiritual qualities: generosity, morality, patience, effort, meditation, and wisdom.[2] (3) The six perfections that the bodhisattva practices to cultivate qualities essential for enlightenment, including generosity, morality, patience, exertion, meditation, and wisdom.[3] (4) The six virtues or perfections (generosity, morality, patience, effort, concentration, and wisdom) cultivated by the bodhisattva on the path to enlightenment.[4] (5) The six perfections—generosity, moral discipline, patience, effort, meditation, and wisdom—central to the bodhisattva path.[5]

From: Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra

(1) The Tathagata has the full body of the six paramitas, representing the perfection of generosity, morality, patience, effort, concentration, and wisdom.[6] (2) The All-Buddha-Tathagata comes from these, the 37 factors leading to Enlightenment, the 11 shunyatas, and enters Great Nirvana.[7] (3) This phrase refers to the six perfections or practices that are essential for spiritual development, and they are considered a causal relation to Nirvana.[8] (4) The six perfections — generosity, ethical conduct, perseverance, patience, concentration, and wisdom that a Bodhisattva cultivates to achieve enlightenment.[9] (5) The six perfections (generosity, morality, patience, effort, meditation, wisdom) practiced by Bodhisattvas to cultivate enlightenment.[10]

From: Shurangama Sutra (with commentary) (English)

(1) are through the ten dwellings, the ten faiths, the ten practices, the ten transferences, and the ten grounds, up to and including the fruition of Buddhahood.[11] (2) The six perfections that are essential practices for Bodhisattvas, represented by the six tusks of Samantabhadra’s elephant.[12] (3) The six perfection practices in Buddhism that guide a practitioner towards enlightenment, including generosity, ethical conduct, patience, effort, meditation, and wisdom.[13] (4) The six perfections cultivated by Bodhisattvas, including giving, moral precepts, patience, vigor, dhyana concentration, and prajna, essential for attaining enlightenment.[14] (5) The six perfections practiced by Bodhisattvas: giving, moral precepts, patience, vigor, dhyana concentration, and prajna.[15]

From: Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra

(1) The six transcendent practices in Mahayana Buddhism that lead to enlightenment: generosity, ethical conduct, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom.[16] (2) The six perfections essential for realizing the Buddha body, according to Vimalakirti's teachings.[17] (3) The six perfections: charity, discipline, patience, devotion, serenity, and wisdom.[18]

From: Lankavatara Sutra

(1) The six perfections practiced by Bodhisattvas which include generosity, moral discipline, patience, exertion, meditation, and wisdom.[19]

From: Avatamsaka Sutra (flower adornment sutra)—Preface

(1) These are the acts of generosity, precepts, patience, vigor, dhyana-samadhi, and prajna wisdom, which guide Bodhisattvas in their practice to assist themselves and others.[20]

From: Bodhisattvacharyavatara

(1) It represents the actual application of the six transcendental perfections. It is an integral part of the training process for developing bodhicitta and following the path of the bodhisattvas.[21]

Mahayana is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sutras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajnaparamita sutras.

Significance in Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism):
Tibetan Buddhism Books

From: The Six Yogas of Naropa

(1) The six perfections that a Bodhisattva should practice, which include generosity, ethics, patience, effort, meditation, and wisdom.[22]

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayana) are collected indepently.

The concept of Six Paramita in scientific sources

Science Books

Six Paramita, in this context, relates to a contramodernist Buddhist organization. Their practices of Goh oshi and Kangi exemplify socially engaged Buddhism, embodying the principles of Six Paramita.

Significance in Religious Studies:
Religion Books

From: Religions Journal (MDPI)

(1) An organization's practice of Goh oshi and Kangi represents a contramodernist Buddhist expression of socially engaged Buddhism and express this concept.[23]