Six Perfections, Six paramitas, Six virtues: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Six Perfections means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
The Six Perfections (In Mahāyāna) are known in Tibetan as pha rol tu phyin pa drug.—The Bönpo (Bön) Dharma has a rough equivalent to the Kangyur. [...] These texts contain scattered references to impermanence; karma and its result; love, compassion, and the awakening mind; the Six Perfections; and so forth; and also presentations of the five paths, the ten stages, the three bodies, and so forth.
The Six Perfections are:
- generosity,
- morality,
- patience,
- diligence,
- mental absorption, and
- wisdom.
The The Six Paramitas or “transcendent perfections” (Sanskrit: Ṣaṭpāramitā; Tibetan: pha rol tu phyin pa drug) comprise the training of a Bodhisattva, which is bodhichitta in action.
They are:
- 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. For details, see (1) The Fortunate Aeon: How the Thousand Buddhas Became Enlightened (2) Samdhinirmochana Sutra, chapter 9; (3) The Sutra of the Question of Subahu.
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 (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Six Perfections:—A technical term in Buddhism corresponding to the Sanskrit ṣaṭpāramitā defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 17):
- The perfection of generosity (dāna-pāramitā),
- The perfection of virtue (śīla-pāramitā),
- The perfection of patience (kṣānti-pāramitā),
- The perfection of energy (vīrya-pāramitā),
- The perfection of meditation (dhyāna-pāramitā),
- The perfection of wisdom (prajñā-pāramitā).
The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., ṣaṣ-pāramitā, ‘six perfections’). The work is attributed to Nagarguna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: The, The, Transcendental, Six, Practice, Perfection, Acte, Paramita, Te.
Full-text (+291): Shatparamita, pha rol tu phyin pa drug, Liu dao bi an, Liu du, Liu du jing, Chi jie bo luo mi, Jie bo luo mi, Liu du ji, Liu du wu ji, Za wu ji jing, Liu du guo bao, Paramita, Ren ru, Liu du ji jing, Liu du wu ji jing, Liu du wu ji ji, Jian xing liu du pin, Kshanti, Jing jin bo luo mi, Chaatthapadasamayoga.
Relevant text
Search found 59 books and stories containing Six Perfections, Six paramitas, Six pāramitās, Six transcendent perfections, Six transcendental perfections, Six transcendental practices, Six transcending actions, Six virtues, The six paramitas, The six perfections, The six transcendental perfections, The six virtues; (plurals include: Six Perfectionses, Six paramitases, Six pāramitāses, Six transcendent perfectionses, Six transcendental perfectionses, Six transcendental practiceses, Six transcending actionses, Six virtueses, The six paramitases, The six perfectionses, The six transcendental perfectionses, The six virtueses). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Bodhisattvacharyavatara (by Andreas Kretschmar)
Text Section 251 < [Khenpo Chöga’s Oral Explanations]
Text Section 100 < [Khenpo Chöga’s Oral Explanations]
Text Section 264 / Stanza 18 < [Khenpo Chöga’s Oral Explanations]
Guhyagarbha Tantra (with Commentary) (by Gyurme Dorje)
Text 15.13 (Commentary) < [Chapter 15 (Text and Commentary)]
Text 17.5 (Commentary) < [Chapter 17 (Text And Commentary)]
Introduction 1: (A Single Supreme Emanational Buddha-body) < [Chapter 3 (text and commentary)]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
III. The two kinds of irreversible Bodhisattvas (avaivartika) < [X. Surpassing the lower vehicles and acceding to the irreversible ground]
I. The essence of the perfections resides in the mind < [Part 1 - Obtaining easily an immense qualification]
I. Position of Bodhisattva (bodhisattvaniyāma) < [IX. Entering into the assurance of Bodhisattva]
Dasabhumika Sutra (translation and study) (by Hwa Seon Yoon)
Part 1 - The concept of Paramita (in Theravada and Mahayana)—Introduction < [Chapter 3 - Study: Paramitas or Perfections]
Part 1 - The Concept of Bodhisattva < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Taisho: Chinese Buddhist Canon
Sutta 42: The Hermit in the Graveyard < [Part 152 - Discourse of the Collection of the Six Perfections]
Sutta 73: The Sutra on Lighting Lamps and Receiving Predictions < [Part 152 - Discourse of the Collection of the Six Perfections]
Sutta 55: The Old Man and the Needles < [Part 152 - Discourse of the Collection of the Six Perfections]
A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms (by Fa-Hien)
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