The PARAMITAS

The term Paramita (Sanskrit) or Parami (Pali) means "perfection" or "transcendent action". In Buddhism, the term refers to the perfection of certain virtues, which are cultivated as a way of purification, purifying (karma) and helping the aspirant to live an unobstructed life, while moving towards the goal of Enlightenment.

Mahayana Buddhism has Six Paramitas:

1. Dana : generosity, giving of oneself, bestowing of truth on others
2. Sila : virtue, morality, discipline, proper conduct
3. Ksanti : patience, tolerance, acceptance, endurance, forbearance under suffering and insult
4. Virya : energy, diligence, vigour, effort, zeal
5. Dhyana : meditation, contemplation, one-pointed concentration
6. Prajna : transcendental wisdom, insight, discernment of reality and truth. It is the perfection of prajna that ferries sentient beings across the ocean of Samsara (the sea of incarnate life) to the shores of Nirvana.

In Theravada Buddhism's canonical Buddhavamsa, the Ten Perfections (dasa paramiyo) are:

1. Dana : generosity, giving of oneself, bestowing of truth on others
2. Sila : virtue, morality, discipline, proper conduct
3. Nekkhamma : renunciation
4. Pañña : transcendental wisdom, insight, discernment of reality and truth.
5. Viriya : energy, diligence, vigour, effort, zeal and progress
6. Khanti : patience, tolerance, acceptance, endurance, forbearance, under suffering and insult
7. Sacca : truthfulness, honesty
8. Adhitthana : determination, resolution
9. Metta : loving-kindness
10.Upekkha : equanimity, serenity

The last two virtues also belong to the Four Immeasurables (Brahmavihara).