How often do you contemplate the 10 Paramitas?

[Individual]

Greetings Mettafuture,

I don't believe the some of the wisdom that can be found in the commentaries should be entirely dismissed.

Likewise. It is possible to not practice something, without having to be explicitly against it, or dismissive of it. Then again, it's good to not falsely believe that Buddha explicitly taught it either.

Metta,
Retro.

But you did dismiss it by implying it's less useful and less direct.

[manas]

...

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Individual,

But you did dismiss it by implying it's less useful and less direct.

Less direct in the sense of paramitas being used in order to follow the bodhisatta path and other related paths not depicted in the suttas.

If your intended goal is arahantship or stream-entry, paramita cultivation is less direct (i.e. taking aeons) and therefore less useful.

It's a case of something being "fit for purpose"... not of blanket dismissal.

Metta,
Retro.

[Ben]

Rather than contemplating them, practing the Dhamma so as to develop them would be the thing to do.

Sadhu!

[Ytrog]

All the friggin' time fortunately and unfortunately -- although not by those names.

Some more than others.

To stay in-tune with the paramitas, I'll occasionally ask myself...

• Am I being generous?
• Am I being virtuous?
• Is there something unneeded in my life that can be renounced?
• Am I being wise in my choices and thoughts?
• Am I putting in enough energy and effort?
• Am I being patient?
• Am I being honest?
• Am I determined?
• Am I treating others with loving-kindness?
• Are my thoughts even and unbiased?

If this is meant with it, then yes. A lot.

[Aloka]

In my case, it's only when I'm reading about them.

This particular list doesn't mean much to me, as the Buddha himself devised many lists and the "ten paramitas" was not one of them. This particular paramita listing is a commentarial device, seemingly co-opted/adapted from Mahayana Buddhism.

To that end, I find lists such the Noble Eightfold Path to be more useful and direct (since I do not strive to follow a bodhisattva path).

Metta,
Retro.

Yes, I agree with you and Tilt, Retro. When I was a Mahayana practitioner and knew little about Theravada and the Pali Canon, there was a list of 6 Paramitas :

Generosity, Ethics/Right Conduct, Forbearance, Diligence, Meditation, Wisdom.

..but they were just a list amongst other lists with lengthy explanations, which didn't mean much to me on a day-to-day level.

What's more important now to me is trying to practice Dhamma according to the Eightfold Path, and developing mindfulness and present moment awareness, according to the teachings of Ajahn Sumedho.

Hopefully if we can all make Dhamma practice part of our lives then various qualities will arise naturally.


with metta,

Aloka


.

[Spiny O'Norman]

And of the paramitas, which do you contemplate the most?

I struggle with 8, so 10 is a bit beyond me.

Spiny

[bodom]

If you are practising the eightfold path then you are already practising the ten paramis and vice versa. There is no need to distinguish between or seperate the two.

[bodom]

1. Generosity = Factor of Right Intention
2. Virtue = Right Action and Livelihood
3. Renunciation = Factor of Right Intention
4. Wisdom = Right View
5. Effort = Right Effort
6. Patience = Right Intention
7. Truthfulness = Factor of Right Speech
8. Determination = Right Effort
9. Loving-kindness = Factor of Right Intention
10. Equanimity = Factor of Right Mindfulness and Concentration

See, all the bases covered.

[mettafuture]

Venerable Bodhi and Gil Fronsdal have done some nice lectures on the 10 Paramis. Here are the links for those of you who are interested.

http://www.bodhimonastery.net/bm/about- ... rams-.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.audiodharma.org/series/1/talk/1859/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

1. Generosity = Factor of Right Intention
2. Virtue = Right Action and Livelihood
3. Renunciation = Factor of Right Intention
4. Wisdom = Right View
5. Effort = Right Effort
6. Patience = Right Intention
7. Truthfulness = Factor of Right Speech
8. Determination = Right Effort
9. Loving-kindness = Factor of Right Intention
10. Equanimity = Factor of Right Mindfulness and Concentration

See, all the bases covered.

Well said.

The Buddha may not have taught the Paramitas (or Paramis) together as a list, but he did teach them individually throughout the suttas.

[Spiny O'Norman]

And of the paramitas, which do you contemplate the most?

I struggle with 8, so 10 is a bit beyond me.

Spiny

Actually even 8 is a bit much, so I prefer sila, samadhi and panna.

Spiny

[beeblebrox]

Actually even 8 is a bit much, so I prefer sila, samadhi and panna.

What about greed, ill-will, and ignorance... which the 10 paramitas seem to be based on. I just keep in mind these three.

[Ytrog]

Sila, Samadhi and Panna constitute the whole path

[mettafuture]

Sila, Samadhi and Panna constitute the whole path

So, some of you like to view the dhamma in a broader sense. Others, like myself, like to go a little deeper into the different facets of the teachings.

[Ytrog]

Sila, Samadhi and Panna constitute the whole path

So, some of you like to view the dhamma in a broader sense. Others, like myself, like to go a little deeper into the different facets of the teachings.

What I meant was that the 10 paramitas are all part of these three. If you contemplate those three, you contemplate the 10 paramitas as well. Sila, Samadhi and Panna are categories where the 10 paramitas fit into.

Personally I find it helpful to contemplate the five hindrances regularly during the day as well.