Dharma Discussion - Exploring the Ten Perfections: Making the Paramitas Come Alive in Your Daily Life

Exploring the Ten Perfections: Making the Paramitas Come Alive in Your Daily Life

   (Note: This topic has been suggested by members of the Yale Buddhist Sangha)

 

   Generosity, morality, patience, effort, concentration, wisdom, skillful means, vow, power, and knowledge: these are the 10 paramitas, a Sanskrit word for “perfections,” and they are familiar throughout the three schools of Buddhism, but especially in the Mahayana and Vajrayana. (In Theravada Buddhism they are called parami and consist of generosity, morality, renunciation, wisdom, effort, patience, truthfulness, determination, loving-kindness, and equanimity). This year we’ll be exploring each of the paramitas in turn, with references to the parami, asking ourselves how we can use them in our practice and in our daily lives.

 

   We’ll start with dana, or generous giving. What does it mean to be giving, not only of our money or time or resources, but of ourselves? How is this framed in the Diamond Sutra and other Buddhist texts? How does this paramita relate to a precept of not being stingy? How does true giving differ from charity? Why does a gift need to circulate to remain vital? What is it to give in an openhearted way, without clinging or attachment, expecting nothing in return? What is it to give in a realization of Oneness that extinguishes separation of self and other, giver and recipient? How can we use our generosity to ease suffering? In our personal lives, where do we find limits and challenges in our own generosity? And when should there be limits? How does generosity relate to compassion? What would it look like to live in a truly generous society, in which all are cared for? 

 

  Join us to share in an open conversation around these and other questions related to generosity, facilitated by Reverend Kanji and bring questions of your own. We’ll begin with a brief meditation period (beginner instruction available on request). Everyone is welcome – Buddhists of all traditions and all levels of experience, from beginner to advanced, and non-Buddhists, too!