What are the six paramitas?

The Six Paramitas, also known as the Six Perfections, are fundamental practices in Mahayana Buddhism that guide the path of a bodhisattva, a being who seeks enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. The term “paramita” can be translated as “perfection” or “transcendent action.” These practices help practitioners to purify their minds, cultivate virtue, and traverse the path to full enlightenment.

The Six Paramitas are:

1. Dāna Paramita (Generosity): This refers to the act of giving or generosity. It’s not limited to material offerings; it includes giving time, energy, wisdom, or even a kind word. Generosity helps to reduce attachment and cultivates a selfless heart.
2. Śīla Paramita (Ethical Discipline): This encompasses living a life of moral uprightness. By adhering to ethical precepts and avoiding harmful behaviors, one promotes personal and communal well-being.
3. Kṣānti Paramita (Patience): Patience or forbearance is the ability to endure hardship, suffering, or adversity without responding with negativity. This paramita teaches tolerance and resilience, especially in the face of obstacles or challenges on the spiritual path.
4. Vīrya Paramita (Vigorous Effort): This refers to the enthusiastic diligence or energy towards positive actions and spiritual practice. It’s about approaching practice with vigor and persistence.
5. Dhyāna Paramita (Meditative Concentration): This involves developing deep concentration and focus through meditation. Through consistent practice, one’s mind becomes undistracted, calm, and single-pointed, allowing for deeper insights into the nature of reality.
6. Prajñā Paramita (Wisdom): This is the understanding or insight into the true nature of reality, often described in terms of the emptiness of inherent existence or the interdependence of all phenomena. Wisdom is the antidote to ignorance, one of the root causes of suffering in Buddhist teachings.

Together, these Six Paramitas provide a comprehensive framework for Buddhist practice, guiding practitioners toward compassionate action and the cultivation of wisdom. The culmination of these practices leads to the development of the enlightened qualities of a bodhisattva.

why are these in Mahayana and not Theravada?

The Six Paramitas (or Perfections) are emphasized particularly in the Mahayana tradition, but the foundational principles behind these practices are very much present in Theravada Buddhism as well. The distinction arises mainly from the different foci and historical developments of the two traditions.

1. Historical and Doctrinal Developments:
   • The earliest form of Buddhism, which would later evolve into Theravada, focused on the monastic community and the teachings found in the Pali Canon.
   • Mahayana Buddhism arose later, with new sutras (scriptures) emphasizing the ideal of the bodhisattva—beings who vow to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. These texts promoted virtues essential for this universal mission, encapsulated in the Six Paramitas.
2. Bodhisattva Ideal:
   • The Mahayana tradition places a significant emphasis on the bodhisattva ideal. The Six Paramitas outline the path for bodhisattvas on their journey to enlightenment.
   • While Theravada focuses primarily on the path of the arahant (a fully enlightened individual), the ideal of selfless compassion and the practice of virtues similar to the paramitas are evident in the teachings and the lives of many Theravadin practitioners.
3. Presence in Theravada:
   • While the formal list of Six Paramitas is more central to Mahayana, Theravada texts and teachings discuss similar virtues. For instance, the Ten Pāramīs in the Theravada tradition overlap with the Mahayana Paramitas, though there are differences in enumeration and emphasis.
4. Differing Emphases:
   • Mahayana literature, given its vast range of texts and teachings, often expands upon and provides more varied methods and practices to cater to a broader audience. This expansion includes elaborate teachings on the Six Paramitas.
   • Theravada, in contrast, has often maintained a closer adherence to the earliest teachings attributed to the Buddha as found in the Pali Canon.

Despite the differences in emphasis or presentation, the core values of generosity, ethical conduct, patience, effort, meditation, and wisdom are foundational in both traditions. Both Mahayana and Theravada traditions seek to address the existential challenge of suffering and guide practitioners towards liberation and enlightenment. The paths may differ in nuances and techniques, but the essential teachings remain aligned.