Paramita (Buddhism)

Originally six transcendent virtues were delineated which a [bodhisattva]

must perfect in his path of enlightenment. Each is related to freedom from separate self-hood. Subsequently an additional four were added. The first six are: [dana]

(giving); [sila]

(morality or discipline); [ksanti]

(patience, tolerance); [virya]

(bravery, vigour); [dhyana]

(meditation); [prajna]

(essential wisdom). This latter is considered the culmination of the other five in Zen teaching. The additional four are: [upaya kausala]

(right means); [pranidhana]

(resolute vow); [bala]

(the ten powers manifested); [jnana]

(knowledge of the dharma). The [paramita]

are related to the ten stages or lands on the meditation way of the [bodhisattvas]

of Tibetan Buddhism and to the four [Brahma-vihara]

- divine states or dwellings - of the [Hinayana]

path. In Zen teaching, the first five perfections of mind, heart and will are possessed by the mature or perfect mind ready then to achieve [prajna]

or great perfection, [maha paramita]

.