“Paramita” [en.Wikipedia.org] Paramita or Parami (Sanskrit or Pali, the former usually using the former and the latter the latter): "Perfection" or "Transcendent". In Buddhism, the Paramitas refer to the perfection or culmination of certain practices. These practices are cultivated by Bodhisattvas for crossing from sensuous life (Samsara) to Enlightenment (Nirvana). In Theravada Buddhism, the Ten Perfections (Paramis) are (original terms in Pali) 1. Dana parami: generosity, giving of oneself 2. Sila parami: virtue, morality, proper conduct 3. Nekkhamma parami: renunciation (of the monk) nekkhamma (nt.) giving up the world & leading a holy life, renunciation of, or emancipation from worldliness, freedom from lust, craving & desires, dispassionateness, self–abnegation; < nikkhamati [Sk. niṣkramati, nis+kamati] to go forth from, to come out of (c. abl.), to get out, issue forth, depart, fig. to leave the household life behind (agārā n.), to retire from the world, or to give up evil desire; [taken as reversal of kama] [The Pali Text Society Pali-English Dictionary] 4. Pañña parami: transcendental wisdom, insight 5. Viriya parami: energy, diligence, vigor, effort 6. Khanti parami: patience, tolerance, forbearance, acceptance, endurance 7. Sacca parami: truthfulness, honesty 8. Adhitthana parami: determination, resolution 9. Metta parami: loving-kindness 10. Upekkha parami: equanimity, serenity

1. Developing the 10 Paramis in a
Vipassana Meditation Retreat
Sharing by Jason Ow

2. What is Parami?
 Good mental qualities that one must perfect
to reach the final goal
 Goal: Stage of total egolessness or
liberation
10 Jars

3. Jars of Different Sizes

4. 1. Nekkhama - Renunciation
 Become a Monk or a Nun
 Without personal possessions
 Beg for his or her daily food
 Purpose: dissolving the ego
 How can lay people develop this parami?
 In the Retreat, we live on the charity of others
 No charges for food and lodging

5. 2. Sila - Morality
 Following the 5 precepts at all times
 In the Retreat, there is no opportunity to
break the precepts because of the heavy
program and discipline
 Noble Silence

6. 3. Viriya - Effort
 In daily life, one makes effort to earn one’s
livelihood
 In the Retreat, we makes effort to purify the
mind by remaining aware and equanimous .

7. 4. Panna - Wisdom
 In the outside world, we gain wisdom from
reading books or listening to others
(intellectual understanding)
 The real parami of wisdom is the
understanding that develops within
ourselves, by our own experience in
meditation

8. 5. Khanti - Tolerance
 During the Retreat,we may find ourselves
becoming disturbed and irritated by the
action of another people.
 Instead of becoming angry, we feel only
love and compassion for that person.

9. 6. Sacca - Truth
 By practising sila, we undertake to maintain
truthfulness at the vocal level.
 Sacca must be practised in a deeper sense
 Every step on the path must be a step with
truth, from gross to ultimate truth
 We must always remain with the reality that
we experience at the present moment

10. 7. Adhitthana – Strong
Determination
 We makes a determination to remain for the
entire period of the retreat
 We determine to follow the heavy timetable
and strict discipline
 During Group Sitting, we determine to
meditate for the entire hour without opening
our eyes, hands and legs

11. 8. Metta – Selfless love
 In our daily life, we tried to feel love and goodwill
for others at the conscious level only.
 At the unconscious level, the old tensions
continued.
 When the entire mind is purified, then from the
depths we can wish for the happiness of others.
 Selfless love – love without expecting anything in
return

12. 9. Upekkha - Equanimity
 We learn to keep the balance of the mind
not only when we experience pain, but also
in the face of pleasant sensation.
 In every situation, we understand that the
experience of that moment is impermanent,
bound to pass away.
 With this understanding, we develop this
parami of Upekkha

13. 10. Dana – Generosity
 Whatever we receive in the retreat is
donated by another person; there are no
charges.
 In turn, we are able to give donations for the
benefits of someone else.
 The amount will vary according to one’s
means.
 Give without expecting anything in return

14. Keep practising
 Develop the 10 Paramis little by little and
keep progressing in the path of Dhamma.
May all beings be happy !