Five practices (Buddhism)

These practices are similar to the [paramita]

of Zen. The [maha paramita]

(great perfection) of essential wisdom - [jhana]

- is not considered separately from [dhyana]

(meditation), the two being combined as [samatha vipasyana]

(meditative insight), but the other four are essentially the same: [dana]

(giving); [sila]

(observing moral precepts, good conduct); [ksanti]

(patience); [virya]

(vigour, striving).

Tsung-mi demonstrated that, in the stages of phenomenal evolution he described, each step on the process of delusion can be counteracted by a step in the process of enlightenment. In this the third step, cultivation of the five practices counteracts the generation karma, the ninth stage of delusion.