Practicing the Paramitas | The Six Paramitas

In Sanskrit ‘paramita’ literally means ‘having reached the other shore.’ It also means ‘transcendence,’ or ‘perfection.’ If we exist on the shore of suffering, reaching the other shore would mean leaving suffering behind and becoming enlightened. Hence, transcendence means to become free from mental afflictions (the causes of suffering) and from suffering itself; The true practice of
the paramitas is to be free from self-attachment and self-cherishing. Based on this definition, the Four Noble Truths and the Thirty-Seven Aids to Enlightenment can also be considered paramitas, because they accord with the teachings of non-attachment and no self-cherishing. All Buddhist practices can thus be viewed as paramitas as long as they accord with the above principles.

From the Mahayana standpoint, practicing the paramitas is to practice in accordance with selflessness and non-attachment, and for the dual benefit of self and others. Practicing for one’s own benefit is not truly paramita practice. Therefore, when we do not practice to benefit others, whether we practice Hinayana or Mahayana, we are not truly practicing the paramitas.

Except for a few to whom helping others is of primary importance, most people believe in defending and caring for themselves first. Once, after I gave a lecture on the Six Paramitas, a gentleman said to me, “I never entertained ideas of benefiting others, because I am feeble. If I can’t help myself, how can I vow to deliver others? I would be very happy if someone could help me. But it is not possible for me to help others:”

The truth is that when you seek to benefit only yourself, what you can reap is limited. Your own rewards will be greatest when you strive to benefit others. As a simple example, if you seize all the wealth in your own family–from brothers, sisters, parents, spouse, or children-how will you survive in that household? Conversely, if you are careful and considerate of your family members, they will be appreciative and reciprocate. Your family will become very happy and harmonious. Therefore, Buddhism espouses benefiting others as the first step on your path to liberation. The Six Paramitas are precisely the means to do this.

What then are the Six Paramitas? They are generosity (dana), morality (sila), patience (ksanti), diligence (virya), meditation (dhyana), and wisdom (prajna). Their purpose is to eradicate the two types of self-attachment, to sever the two types of death, and to transcend the ocean of suffering.

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