【英汉对照佛学词典】

PARAMITA,波罗蜜多


Paramita 波罗蜜多

It means to cross over from this shore of births and deaths to the other shore which is the Nirvana.

The Six Paramita or means of so doings are

(1) dana - charity/giving

(2) sila - moral/conduct/taking precepts

(3) ksanti - patience

(4) virya - vigor/devotion/energy

(5) dhyana - contemplation/meditation

(6) prajna - wisdom.

The Ten Paramita are the above plus

(7) upaya - use of expedient or proper means

(8) pranidhana - vow of bodhi and helpfulness

(9) bala - strength

(10) intelligence

Childers gives the list of ten as the perfect exercise of

charity/almsgiving, morality, renunciation, wisdom, energy/effort, patience, truth, resolution/determination, kindness/universal love and resignation/equanimity.

Each of the ten is divided into ordinary, superior and unlimited perfection, making up to thirty in total.