Path of the Bodhisattva 05 The Perfections (Paramitas)

A general introduction to the six Paramitas or virtues of the consciousness. Lecture quote: "The qualities of the Consciousness that are required in order to merge with divinity are called in Sanskrit "Paramitas." This term Para means "beyond." In its synthesis the word Paramita means, "that which is beyond" or "transcendental." Usually, they are called "the perfections." But in this course, we prefer to call them "conscious attitudes." The teachings of the Paramitas are very common in all forms of Buddhism-and in fact, they are common in all religions, but organized in slightly different ways. In Buddhism they are usually presented as Six Paramitas, or six qualities that we need. These six qualities are not simply virtues in the way we think of them. They are rather transcendental. They are beyond common virtues. And the Paramitas in their ultimate expression relate to the three Kayas, the three bodies of the Buddha. In that way we can understand that the Paramitas are beyond Samsara, this world of suffering. They are beyond Nirvana, which is the world of the Gods, and instead the perfection of the Paramitas is in Non-Abiding Nirvana, which is a state of Consciousness that only a Bodhisattva can have. So this emphasizes that the full development of Paramitas is possible only for those on the Bodhisattva path." Read the lecture transcription.