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|definition=The six or ten types of practices which lead an individual to Buddhahood. The practice of perfections is particularly important in Mahāyāna Buddhism in which the entire path of the Bodhisattva to reach full enlightenment is included in the six or ten perfections. | |definition=The six or ten types of practices which lead an individual to Buddhahood. The practice of perfections is particularly important in Mahāyāna Buddhism in which the entire path of the Bodhisattva to reach full enlightenment is included in the six or ten perfections. | ||
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The six perfections, in the order they are most commonly presented, are generosity (''dāna'' or ''sbyin pa''), discipline (''śīla'' or ''tshul khrims''), patience (''kṣānti'' or ''bzod pa''), diligence (''vīrya'' or ''brtson 'grus''), meditative concentration (''dhyāna'' or ''bsam gtan''), and wisdom (''prajñā'' or ''shes rab''). These can be divided into groups that separate the first five perfections from the sixth. In these cases, the first group can represent either skillful means or the accumulation of merit, both of which are commonly paired with wisdom. They can also be presented in accordance with the three trainings (''triśikṣā''), which are discipline, meditative absorption (''samādhi''), and wisdom. In this case, the first three perfections, generosity, discipline, and patience, are categorized under the training of discipline and the last two perfections are categorized under meditation and wisdom, respectively. Diligence is categorized under all three of the trainings, as it is a crucial component of | The six perfections, in the order they are most commonly presented, are generosity (''dāna'' or ''sbyin pa''), discipline (''śīla'' or ''tshul khrims''), patience (''kṣānti'' or ''bzod pa''), diligence (''vīrya'' or ''brtson 'grus''), meditative concentration (''dhyāna'' or ''bsam gtan''), and wisdom (''prajñā'' or ''shes rab''). These can be divided into groups that separate the first five perfections from the sixth. In these cases, the first group can represent either skillful means or the accumulation of merit, both of which are commonly paired with wisdom. They can also be presented in accordance with the three trainings (''triśikṣā''), which are discipline, meditative absorption (''samādhi''), and wisdom. In this case, the first three perfections, generosity, discipline, and patience, are categorized under the training of discipline and the last two perfections are categorized under the trainings of meditation and wisdom, respectively. Diligence is categorized under all three of the trainings, as it is a crucial component of any type of training. | ||
Furthermore, the perfections are described as being endowed with four special features (''khyad chos bzhi ldan'') that distinguish them from their mundane counterparts. These four are presented in a series of verses in the ''Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkārakārikā'', in which only the name of the perfection changes from verse to verse. The first of these stating, | Furthermore, the perfections are described as being endowed with four special features (''khyad chos bzhi ldan'') that distinguish them from their mundane counterparts. These four are presented in a series of verses in the ''Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkārakārikā'', in which only the name of the perfection changes from verse to verse. The first of these stating, | ||
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