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pāramitā

A Dictionary of Buddhism | 2004 | | Copyright

pāramitā (Skt., crossed over). In Mahāyāna Buddhism a ‘perfection’ or virtuous quality practised by a Bodhisattva in the course of his spiritual development. Apparently related to the ten pāramīs of early Buddhism, an original list of six Mahāyāna perfections was eventually increased to ten to complement the ten stages or levels (bhūmi) of a Bodhisattva's career. The full list of the ten Perfections is: (1) generosity (dāna); (2) morality (śīla); (3) patience (kṣānti); (4) courage (vīrya); (5) meditation (samādhi), (6) intuitive insight (prajñā); (7) skilful means (upāya-kauśalya); (8) vow (pranidhāna); (9) power (bala); (10) knowledge (jñāna). The sixth is the subject of the extensive corpus of Perfection of Insight literature (see Prajñā-pāramitā Sūtras).

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DAMIEN KEOWN. "pāramitā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAMIEN KEOWN. "pāramitā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-pramit.html

DAMIEN KEOWN. "pāramitā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-pramit.html

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Pāramitā

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | | Copyright

Pāramitā (Skt., ‘that which has crossed over’). In Mahāyāna Buddhism, the six (or later ten) virtues developed by bodhisattvas: (i) dāna-paramitā, generosity; (ii) śīla-paramitā, correct conduct; (iii) kṣānti-paramitā, patient acceptance of injuries received; (iv) vīrya-paramitā, exertion; (v) dhyāna-paramitā, meditation; (vi) prajña-paramitā, wisdom; (vii) upāya-kauśalya-paramitā, skill-in-means; (viii) pranidhāna-paramitā, the bodhisattva vow; (ix) bala-paramitā, manifestation of the ten powers of knowledge; (x) jñana-paramitā, true wisdom. Of these, (vi) is often considered paramount, the others relating more to means than to the end. Consequently, there developed the Perfection of Wisdom literature and school (Prajñāparāmitā).

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JOHN BOWKER. "Pāramitā." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Pāramitā." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Pramit.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Pāramitā." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Pramit.html

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