Paramita
Paramita (पारमिता) means “perfection” or “transcendence.” In Mahayana Buddhism, it refers to the six (or ten) perfections that a bodhisattva cultivates on the path to buddhahood.
Overview
The six paramitas (perfections) are: (1) dana (generosity), (2) shila (moral conduct), (3) kshanti (patience), (4) virya (diligence), (5) dhyana (meditation), and (6) prajna (wisdom). Some lists add four more: (7) upaya (skillful means), (8) pranidhana (vow/aspiration), (9) bala (power), and (10) jnana (knowledge). Each paramita is “perfected” when it is performed without attachment to self, others, or the act itself.
Philosophical Context
The Prajnaparamita (“Perfection of Wisdom”) literature — including the Heart Sutra and Diamond Sutra — is the philosophical heart of Mahayana Buddhism. The Prajnaparamita teaches that the ultimate paramita is prajna (wisdom) — the direct realization of shunyata (emptiness). The Diamond Sutra states: “All bodhisattvas should thus train: when giving, they should not grasp at signs… when practicing the paramitas, they should not grasp at signs.” The paramitas are the practical expression of the bodhisattva’s vow to liberate all beings.
Interpretations
The Theravada tradition uses a different list of ten paramitas (generosity, morality, renunciation, wisdom, energy, patience, truthfulness, determination, loving-kindness, and equanimity). The Yogachara school elaborates the paramitas in the Bodhisattvabhumi — each perfection is associated with specific practices and realizations. In Tibetan Buddhism, the six paramitas are standard, sometimes expanded to ten. In Chinese and Japanese Buddhism, the paramitas are the foundation of monastic training and lay practice.
Verification Notes
- Heart Sutra on the perfection of wisdom.
- Diamond Sutra on the paramitas without attachment.
- Prajnaparamita Sutras are the key sources.
- Audited against Wikipedia and Buddhist philosophy references (September 2026).