Mettā pāramī : goodwill, friendliness, loving-kindness

Karaniya Metta Sutta: The Buddha’s Words on Loving-Kindness

This is what should be done By one who is skilled in goodness, And who knows the path of peace: Let them be able and upright, Straightforward and gentle in speech, Humble and not conceited, Contented and easily satisfied, Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways. Peaceful and calm and wise and skillful, Not proud or demanding in nature. Let them not do the slightest thing That the wise would later reprove. Wishing: In gladness and in safety, May all beings be at ease. Whatever living beings there may be; Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none, The great or the mighty, medium, short or small, The seen and the unseen, Those living near and far away, Those born and to-be-born — May all beings be at ease! Let none deceive another, Or despise any being in any state. Let none through anger or ill-will Wish harm upon another. Even as a mother protects with her life Her child, her only child, So with a boundless heart Should one cherish all living beings; Radiating kindness over the entire world: Spreading upwards to the skies, And downwards to the depths; Outwards and unbounded, Freed from hatred and ill-will. Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down Free from drowsiness, One should sustain this recollection. This is said to be the sublime abiding. By not holding to fixed views, The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision, Being freed from all sense desires, Is not born again into this world.

“Karaniya Metta Sutta: The Buddha’s Words on Loving-Kindness” (Sn 1.8), translated from the Pali by The Amaravati Sangha. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 2 November 2013, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.1.08.amar.html .

Adhiṭṭhāna pāramī : determination, resolution

In the Pali Canon, in the Digha Nikaya discourse entitled, “Chanting Together” (DN 33), Ven. Sariputta states that the Buddha has identified the following:’Four kinds of resolve (adhiṭṭhānī): [to gain] (a) wisdom, (b) truth (sacca), (c) relinquishment (cāga), (d) tranquility (upasama).’^[3]

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adhi%E1%B9%AD%E1%B9%ADh%C4%81na

Sacca pāramī : truthfulness, honesty

“In the same way, Rahula, when anyone feels no shame in telling a deliberate lie, there is no evil, I tell you, he will not do. Thus, Rahula, you should train yourself, ‘I will not tell a deliberate lie even in jest.’

“Ambalatthika-rahulovada Sutta: Instructions to Rahula at Mango Stone” (MN 61), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 30 November 2013, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.061.than.html .

Khanti pāramī : patience, tolerance, forbearance, acceptance, endurance

KHANTIVĀDI-JĀTAKA. 1

“Whoso cut of,” etc.—This story the Master, while dwelling at Jetavana, told about a wrathful Brother. The incident that gave rise to the story has been already described. The Master asked that Brother, saying, “Why after taking orders under the dispensation of the Buddha who knows not what wrath is, do you show anger? Wise men in bygone days, though they suffered a thousand stripes, and had their hands and feet and ears and nose cut off, showed no anger against another.” And he then told a story of the olden time…

Reference:
https://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/j3/j3014.htm

Viriya pāramī : energy, diligence, vigour, effort

What is virya? It is the mind intent on being ever active, devoted, unshaken, not turning back and being indefatigable. It perfects and realizes what is conducive to the positive.^[9] …. It is also associated with “Right Effort” (sammā-vāyāma) of the Noble Eightfold Path (Pāli: aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo; Skt.: aṣṭāṅga mārga) and with the “Four Right Exertions” (samma-ppadhāna).

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C4%ABrya

Paññā pāramī : transcendental wisdom, insight, discernment

• paññā

‘understanding, knowledge, wisdom, insight’, comprises a very wide field. The specific Buddhist knowledge or wisdom, however, as part of the Noble Eightfold Path (magga, q.v.) to deliverance, is insight (vipassanā, q.v.), i.e. that intuitive knowledge which brings about the 4 stages of holiness and the realization of Nibbāna (s. ariyapuggala), and which consists in the penetration of the impermanency (anicca, q.v.), misery (dukkha, s. sacca) and impersonality (anattā) of all forms of existence. Further details, s. under tilakkhana.

Reference:
http://www.palikanon.com/english/wtb/n_r/pannaa.htm

Comment: What I’ve been told in the 10-day retreats I’ve attended is that the wisdom arises from direct experience while practicing Vipassana.

Nekkhamma pāramī : renunciation

If, by forsaking a limited ease, he would see an abundance of ease, the enlightened man would forsake the limited ease for the sake of the abundant.

— Dhp 290
“Pakinnakavagga: Miscellany” (Dhp XXI), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 30 November 2013, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.21.than.html .

‘Subject to birth, subject to aging, subject to death, run-of-the-mill people are repelled by those who suffer from that to which they are subject. And if I were to be repelled by beings subject to these things, it would not be fitting for me, living as they do.’ As I maintained this attitude — knowing the Dhamma without acquisitions — I overcame all intoxication with health, youth, & life as one who sees renunciation as rest. For me, energy arose, Unbinding was clearly seen. There’s now no way I could partake of sensual pleasures. Having followed the holy life, I will not return.

— AN 3.38
“Sukhamala Sutta: Refinement” (AN 3.38), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 1 December 2013, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.038.than.html 

Sīla pāramī : virtue, morality, proper conduct

1. I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking life;
2. I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking what is not given;
3. I undertake the training rule to abstain from sensual misconduct;
4. I undertake the training rule to abstain from false speech;
5. I undertake the training rule to abstain from liquors, wines, and other intoxicants, which are the basis for heedlessness.

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_ethics

Doing Good – Dāna Pāramī

Dāna leads to one of the pāramitās or “perfections”, the dānapāramitā. This can be characterized by unattached and unconditional generosity, giving and letting go.

Giving without seeking anything in return leads to greater spiritual wealth. Moreover, it reduces the acquisitive impulses that ultimately lead to continued suffering^[51] from egotism.

Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C4%81na

The Pāramīs – Perfections

183. Not to commit any sin, to do good, and to purify one’s mind, that is the teaching of (all) the Awakened.

Reference: The Dhammapada
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/sbe10/sbe1016.htm

In doing good and to do good one develops 10 perfections, pāramīs. Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81ramit%C4%81

We’ll look at these over the coming blog posts.

Be Happy!