The Paramis: A Historical Background 

– Guy Armstrong 

The ascetic Sumedha Four incalculables and one hundred thousand eons before our present age – which is to say a very, very, very long time ago – an ascetic named Sumedha was practicing the path to arahantship when he received word that a fully self-awakened one, a Buddha named Dipankara, was teaching in a town nearby. He traveled there and found Dipankara Buddha being venerated in a long procession attended by most of the townspeople. Sumedha was immediately touched with deep reverence upon seeing the noble bearing and vast tranquility of the Buddha. He realized that to become an arahant would be of great benefit to humankind, but that the benefit to the world of a Buddha was immensely greater. At that very moment, in the presence of Dipankara Buddha, he made a vow to become a Buddha in a future life. This marked his entry into the path of the bodhisattva, a being bound for buddhahood. Just then Sumedha noticed that the Buddha was about to walk through a patch of wet mud. Spontaneously, out of great devotion, he threw his body down in the mud and invited the Buddha and his Sangha to walk over him rather than dirty their feet. As the great teacher passed, Dipankara Buddha read Sumedha’s mind, understood his aspiration, and predicted that the ascetic Sumedha would fulfill his vow to become a Buddha at a time four incalculables and a hundred thousand eons in the future. It was also revealed to Sumedha that had he not made the aspiration to become a Buddha, he would have realized full enlightenment that day by listening to a discourse from Dipankara Buddha. This would have ended Sumedha’s own suffering and also his chain of rebirths. But the bodhisattva chose instead to devote inconceivable lifetimes of practice to gain the ultimate goal, buddhahood. Having resolved on this goal, Sumedha then retired to his cave to reflect. “How can I make this vast journey?” he wondered. “What aspects of mind and heart do I need to develop in order to become a Buddha?” As he reflected, he saw that there were ten wholesome qualities that he would need to brought to strength and maturity. The factors came into his mind one by one. Generosity (dana). Virtue (sila). Renunciation (nekkhamma). Wisdom (pañña). Energy (viriya). Patience (khanti). Truthfulness (sacca). Determination (aditthana). Lovingkindness (metta). Equanimity (upekkha). He called this set the paramis, which has usually been translated as the “perfections.” He then began the journey of innumerable lifetimes to develop the perfections of heart and mind that finally unfolded in his full enlightenment as Gotama Buddha under the bodhi tree in Northern India more than 2500 years ago. The paramis in Theravadin literature The story of Sumedha and the paramis is related in the Buddhavamsa, which is found in the Khuddaka Nikaya, or Minor Collection, in the Sutta Pitaka of the Pali Canon. The stories in the Buddhavamsa, like those in the Jatakas (stories of the many lives of our bodhisattva), are viewed by scholars as later additions to the Canon and somewhat apocryphal. They do not carry the authenticity of the Buddha’s voice as do the other four Nikayas (Digha, Majjhima, Samyutta, and Anguttara), Sutta Nipata, Dhammapada, Udana, and Itivuttaka. Interestingly, although the Buddha spoke often of these ten qualities, to my knowledge the list of the paramis does not appear even once in the above texts which we may consider to be the most authentic words of the Buddha. Still it is clear that from the early days of Theravada Buddhism, the paramis were viewed as the essential elements of the path to buddhahood and hence closely identified with the bodhisattva path. Note that in the authoritative suttas of the Canon, the Buddha often refers to himself as the “bodhisatta” (Pali; or bodhisattva, Sanskrit). Contrary to common belief, the bodhisattva path has always been one of three options within Theravada, the others being those of the arahant and the pacekkabuddha (one who is self- realized but doesn’t teach). Though a minority, there are many Theravadin practitioners in Burma today following the bodhisattva path. There are stories in Burma that the meditation master Mingun Sayadaw early in the last century instructed one student, Mahasi Sayadaw, to become an arahant and another student, Taungpulu Sayadaw, to follow the bodhisattva path. Such stories are extremely hard to verify. Because monks are forbidden to talk to laypeople about their attainments, they rarely offer details of their practices. The paramis came to play a central role in Buddhist thought with the dawn of the Mahayana, around the start of the common era, when the bodhisattva ideal gained more widespread popularity among practitioners. With the growth of interest in the bodhisattva path, Theravadin scholars responded from within their tradition. For example, there is an extensive essay by Acariya Dhammapala, a contemporary of Buddhaghosa Bhikkhu in Sri Lanka, called A Treatise on the Paramis. It has been translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi and can be found online at http://www.geocities.com/~madg/gangessangha/ParamisTreatise.html. The paramis in Mahayana literature Mahayana Buddhism placed the paramis at the center of their training because all practitioners in that lineage are encouraged to practice for buddhahood. (In Mahayana, the term paramitas is more frequently used, but the two are synonymous.) Their philosophers reduced the list from ten qualities to six, omitting five of the Theravadin paramis (renunciation, truthfulness, determination, lovingkindness, and equanimity) and adding one (concentration). The order is slightly different in the Mahayana list and is considered to indicate something of a sequence of development: generosity, virtue, patience, energy, concentration, and wisdom. It is interesting that while deleting lovingkindness from the list, the Mahayanists didn’t choose to replace it with compassion, which they came to regard as the most important of the four brahmaviharas. The clearest expression of the paramis as an entire path is perhaps found in Shantideva’s classic text from the eighth century, Bodhicaryavatara, or Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way, which is available in several English translations. This work is especially beloved by the Dalai Lama, who has published a beautiful commentary on it called A Flash of Lightning in the Dark of Night. Shantideva’s Guide is really a foundational text for the Mahayana schools; of texts by known authors, its influence in Buddhist thought is probably second only to that of Nagarjuna’s Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way. The paramis in practice One of the beautiful features of the paramis, in contrast, say, to the seven factors of enlightenment, is that these qualities can be developed in daily life as well as in retreat. Qualities like generosity, virtue, patience, and truthfulness can be developed strongly in daily life, while aspects like energy, wisdom, and equanimity may develop more fully through formal meditation. The paramis thus span what the Mahayanists call the two accumulations required for liberation: the accumulation of merit and the accumulation of wisdom. That is, in order to be liberated, we need to perform a lot of wholesome actions and also generate a great deal of insight. This is true whether we are practicing for buddhahood or arahantship. The list of paramis highlights this balance. We understand that the two accumulations together have the power to uplift us and sweep us to liberation. The meaning of parami points to this. Thanissaro Bhikkhu mentions two etymologies: “They carry one across to the further shore (param); and they are of foremost (parama) importance in formulating the purpose of one’s life.” (Introduction to “The Ten Perfections: A Study Guide,” online at: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/perfections.html .) In their blend of merit and insight, the paramis convey the two key qualities of Buddhist life, compassion and wisdom. As Acariya Dhammapala says in his treatise: Through his wisdom the bodhisattva perfects within himself the character of a Buddha, through his compassion the ability to perform the work of a Buddha. Through wisdom she brings herself across (the stream of becoming), through compassion she leads others across. Through compassion he trembles with sympathy for all, but because his compassion is accompanied by wisdom his heart is unattached.

 Overview of the 10 Paramitas 

1. Perfection of Giving (Dana)  

When giving, or generosity, is perfected, it is selfless. There is no measure of gaining or losing. There are no strings attached and no  expectations of thanks or reciprocation. The giving is gratifying of  itself.  Giving in this way loosens the grip of greed and helps to develop  non-attachment. Such giving also develops virtue and leads naturally to the next perfection, morality.  

2. Perfection of Morality (Sila)  

Although it is said that moral behaviour flows naturally from releasing  selfish desires, it’s also the case that releasing selfish desires flows  naturally from moral behaviour.  In much of Asia, the most basic Buddhist practices for laypeople are  giving alms to monastics and practicing the Precepts. The Precepts are  not a list of arbitrary rules as much as they are principles to apply to  one’s life, in order to live harmoniously with others.  Appreciation of the values of giving and living in harmony with others leads to the next perfection, renunciation.  

3. Perfection of Renunciation (Nekkhamma) Renunciation in Buddhism can be understood as letting go of whatever  binds us to suffering and ignorance. That doesn’t sound so bad, right?  This is easier said than done, because those things that bind us are the  very things we often think we must have to be happy.  The Buddha taught that genuine renunciation requires thoroughly  perceiving how we make ourselves unhappy by grasping and greediness.  When we do, renunciation naturally follows, and it is a positive and  liberating act, not a punishment.  Renunciation is said to be perfected by wisdom, which is the next parami.  

4. Perfection of Wisdom (Panna)  

Wisdom in this case means seeing the true nature of the phenomenal world. It is also a deep insight into the Four Noble Truths.  Wisdom is perfected by energy, which is the next parami.  

5. Perfection of Energy (Virya)  

Energy, virya, is about walking the spiritual path with the fearlessness  and determination of a warrior. Such fearlessness follows naturally  from the perfection of wisdom.  The perfection and channeling of energy help bring about patience.  

6. Perfection of Patience (Khanti)  

Having developed the energy and fearlessness of a warrior, we can now  develop patience, or khanti. Khanti means “unaffected by” or “able to  withstand.” It could be translated as tolerance, endurance and composure  as well as patience or forbearance.  Khanti helps us endure the hardships of our own lives as well as the suffering created by others even as we try to help them.  

7. Perfection of Truthfulness (Sacca) 

Having developed patience and forbearance, we are better able to speak  truth even when people don’t want to hear it. Truthfulness manifests  excellence and honesty and helps develop determination.  

8. Perfection of Determination (Adhitthana) Determination clarifies what is necessary for enlightenment and  eliminates whatever is in the way. The clear, unfettered path helps  develop loving kindness.  

9. Perfection of Loving kindness (Metta) 

Loving kindness is a mental state cultivated by practice. It is  essential to doing away with the self-clinging that binds us to  suffering. Metta is an antidote to selfishness, anger and fear.  

10. Perfection of Equanimity (Upekkha) 

Equanimity allows us to see things impartially. With equanimity, we are  no longer pulled this way and that by our passions, likes, and dislikes.  Thich Nhat Hanh says that the Sanskrit word upeksha means “equanimity, non-attachment,  nondiscrimination, even-mindedness, or letting go. You climb the mountain to be able to look over the whole situation, not bound by one side or the other.” 

The Perfections – Generosity

Reflections and Practices

The following reflections and practices are offered as ways to continue your exploration of

the Perfection of Generosity. Both the reflections and the practices can be enriched by discussing

them with friends, fellow practitioners, strangers, and if you have chosen to have one, with your

Dharma Practice Day buddy.

A useful way of engaging with the reflections is to spend a few days with each one, perhaps

rereading the reflection to see what new perspectives repeated readings provide. It can be nice to

devote some quiet time to focus on these reflections, perhaps while going for a walk or drinking tea.

Suggested reading: the two articles on generosity in the Issue at Hand, also found on the

Issue at Hand page of IMC’s website.

Reflections:

1. Our attitudes toward generosity are often conditioned by how generosity was viewed and

practiced in the family and culture we grew up in. Spend some time considering how you

may have been influenced by this conditioning. What are the formative influences that

shaped your relationship to generosity. If you can, talk with someone from your family of

origin to help you understand how your family related to generosity. You might also talk to

someone with a similar cultural background as you to explore your culture’s attitude toward

generosity.

2. What beliefs do you have that interfere with being motivated to be generous and what

beliefs interfere with acting on your impulses to be generous? Spend some time considering

the validity and usefulness of these beliefs. What are appropriate ways to overcome the

limitations these beliefs place on you?

3. Spend an extended period of time considering the ways that it benefits you to be generous to

someone else. As you reflect on this and discuss this topic with others, write down a list of

the ways you benefit.

4. Reflect on your attitudes, beliefs, and feelings about being the recipient of someone’s

generosity. Spend some time thinking about how you can be a generous recipient.

Practices:

1. During this month find four occasions where you can bring food (e.g. a nice snack) to share

with people who would not expect you to bring food (for example, not a potluck). Notice

what effect your gift has on these people. Also notice how it affects you to have done this.

2. During the month find four occasions where you can give something anonymously to a

person you have some direct contact with. Be mindful of what you are feeling and thinking

as you are considering doing this act, while you are doing it, and after it is done.

3. During this month look for an opportunity where you want to do something generous that

feels like a challenge or a stretch for you to do. Act on your wish and explore what you feel

and think before, during, and after doing it.

(Next week: 2. Perfection of Morality)