User:Godsy/Diligence in buddhism

Diligence in Mahanyana Buddhist Tradition

Pāramitā (Pāli; Sanskrit; Devanagari: पारमिता) or pāramī (Pāli) is "perfection" or "completeness."^[1] In Buddhism, the pāramitās refer to the perfection or culmination of certain virtues. In Buddhism, these virtues are cultivated as a way of purification, purifying karma and helping the aspirant to live an unobstructed life, while reaching the goal of enlightenment.

In Mahāyāna Buddhism, the Lotus Sutra (Saddharmapundarika), lists the six perfections as (original terms in Sanskrit):

Dāna pāramitā: generosity, giving of oneself (in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, 布施波羅蜜; in Wylie Tibetan, sbyin-pa)
Śīla pāramitā : virtue, morality, discipline, proper conduct (持戒波羅蜜; tshul-khrims)
Kṣānti (kshanti) pāramitā : patience, tolerance, forbearance, acceptance, endurance (忍辱波羅蜜, bzod-pa)
Vīrya pāramitā : energy, diligence, vigor, effort (精進波羅蜜, brtson-’grus)
Dhyāna pāramitā : one-pointed concentration, contemplation (禪定波羅蜜, bsam-gtan)
Prajñā pāramitā : wisdom, insight (智慧波羅蜜, shes-rab)

Ken and Katia Holmes states in their translation of Gems of Dharma, Jewel of Freedom by Je gampopa that ' the definition of the Tibetan term has, like that of the English word "diligence", a feeling of joyous enthusiasm about it. In popular use, however, "diligence" has come to meana more dutiful, forced type of effort: unfortunatesince the very root of the word means "delight".).^[2]

References[edit]

^ For the Pāli terms, see, e.g., Rhys Davids & Stede, 1921-25, p. 454, entries for "Pāramī" and "Pāramitā," retrieved 23 Mar 2010 and 30 Jun 2007, respectively. For the Sanskrit term, see, e.g., Apte (1957-59), p. 111, entry for pāramita, retrieved 24 Mar 2010.
While, technically, pāramī and pāramitā are both Pāli, the Pāli literature makes far greater reference to pāramī. Bodhi (2005) states:
"The word pāramī derives from parama, 'supreme,' and thus suggests the eminence of the qualities which must be fulfilled by a bodhisattva in the long course of his spiritual development. But the cognate pāramitā, the word preferred by the Mahāyāna texts and also used by Pāli writers, is sometimes explained as pāram + ita, 'gone to the beyond,' thereby indicating the transcendental direction of these qualities." (Velthuis convention lettering replaced with Pāli diacritics.)
^ Holmes K, Holmes E (translators)(1995). Gems of Dharma, Jewels of Freedom. Great Britain, Altea Publishing: Cromwell Press. P.164. ISBN 0-9524555-0-1

[1] For the Pāli terms, see, e.g., Rhys Davids & Stede, 1921-25, p. 454, entries for "Pāramī" and "Pāramitā," retrieved 23 Mar 2010 and 30 Jun 2007, respectively. For the Sanskrit term, see, e.g., Apte (1957-59), p. 111, entry for pāramita, retrieved 24 Mar 2010.
While, technically, pāramī and pāramitā are both Pāli, the Pāli literature makes far greater reference to pāramī. Bodhi (2005) states:
"The word pāramī derives from parama, 'supreme,' and thus suggests the eminence of the qualities which must be fulfilled by a bodhisattva in the long course of his spiritual development. But the cognate pāramitā, the word preferred by the Mahāyāna texts and also used by Pāli writers, is sometimes explained as pāram + ita, 'gone to the beyond,' thereby indicating the transcendental direction of these qualities." (Velthuis convention lettering replaced with Pāli diacritics.)

[2] Holmes K, Holmes E (translators)(1995). Gems of Dharma, Jewels of Freedom. Great Britain, Altea Publishing: Cromwell Press. P.164. ISBN 0-9524555-0-1

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