The Paramitas holds an important place in Buddhism, especially in the Mahayana tradition, because it is an expression of what one should strive for if one wants to live life in a skillful, realistic, enlightened, and wise way. In substance, the Paramitas point the way for living life by practicing metta (lovingkindness) and karuna (compassion).
The Paramitas are sometimes listed as six and sometimes as ten. As six, they are:
- Generosity (Liberality)
- Conduct (Morality)
- Patience (Forbearance)
- Energy (Diligence, Industrious, Hard Work)
- Meditation
- Wisdom.
As ten, they are:
- Generosity (Liberality)
- Morality (Conduct)
- Renunciation
- Wisdom
- Diligence (Industrious)
- Patience (Forbearance)
- Truthfulness
- Resolution (Determination, Purpose)
- Lovingkindness
- Equanimity
Practitioners of the Paramitas are concerned about the welfare of all beings. Therefore they:
- Strive to help others to be happy and secure by giving without first investigating whether or not they are worthy,
- avoid doing them any harm by observing morality,
- Strive toward performing tasks without hope of obtaining wealth, fame, or privileges, and avoid the seeking of pleasures so that morality can be perfected,
- strive for insight, for a wise and clearer understanding of what is beneficial and injurious to themselves and others,
- constantly exert energy and enthusiastic effort for the happiness of themselves and others,
- practice patience through compassion and lovingkindness by realizing the imperfections of ourselves and others,
- Strive to be reliable, honest, truthful, and dependable by not breaking promises, pledges, or oaths,
- are determined to work constantly for the welfare of ourselves and all beings,
- reflect lovingkindness and compassion through the practice of kind and helpful acts toward all beings,
- harbor no thoughts of expectation or reward for our actions through the practice of equanimity.
