Prajna paramita, the perfection of wisdom, jnana, is the direct perception of reality by overcoming illusory appearances. Continuous refinement, beginning with not-self, then mind only, emptiness, luminosity – the nature of awareness, and finally the union of all.
Table of Contents
6 Paramitas
Paramita means transcendent or perfected virtue. The 6 paramitas in Buddhism are:
| 6 Paramitas or Transcendent / perfected Virtues | |
| Sanskrit / Pali | English |
| Dana paramita | Transcendent Generosity |
| Sila, Shila paramita | Transcendent discipline, moral character |
| Kshanti, ksanti paramita | Perfect Patience |
| Virya paramita | Perfect Exertion |
| Dhyana paramita | Perfect Meditation |
| Prajna paramita | Transcendent Wisdom, insight |
Prajna Paramita (6) – Perfection of Wisdom meaning
Wisdom is the insight into shunyata or emptiness, the understanding phenomenal reality are not genuinely existent, that kunta zangpo – basic goodness is the underlying reality, that the self has not true, independent existence, karma is interdependence, and compassion is the source of true happiness.
Prajna, intelligence, can be seen as a conceptualized understanding of emptiness and ultimate reality. Jnana, more commonly translated as wisdom, becomes the direct perception of wisdom or reality. The two have back and forth interplay, with prajna sorting out inaccuracies in perceptions or meditative fabrications. Prajna continually hones the vision that jnana sees, purifying it of false or distorted perception.
The perfection of wisdom would thus be full enlightenment.
Wisdom is generally approached in a stepwise fashion in meditation and view. After attaining the Hinayana view into non-self, the practitioner then focuses on comprehending shunyata or emptiness of all phenomena. This generally begins with the Cittamatra, or mind-only school.
How to meditate like a yogi
and enter profound samadhi
Cittamatra is more focused on meditation, but includes a challenging philosophy of the 3 natures: imaginary (phenomenal reality), dependent (mind or consciousness), and thoroughly established (emptiness).
Cittamatra is often misunderstood or leads to subtle confusions, ie – mind is real. It behooves the practitioner to study Prasangika Madhyamika to clarify the conceptual understanding of emptiness – to wit, no conceptual is accurate about anything – even this statement is unproveable. Whatever is said about reality can be shown to have internal contradictions through logic. Using this approach, subtle distortions in meditation and concept can be uncovered, allowing the practitioner much greater insight into emptiness.
Unfortunately, Prasangika or Rangtong (empty of self) carries its own problem. Because it is so powerful at negating all concepts, it unintentionally and unknowingly negates the appearance of genuine reality, the luminous nature. The well-trained Rangtongpa can see the emergence as a false concept in meditation and, sadly, block their final movement into direct perception and their path to enlightenment.
For more on this, see here.
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Prajnaparamita Mantra
The prajna paramita mantra is Om gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svhaha. It means Om gone gone, gone beyond, gone completely beyond, awake, thus it is. The prajna paramita mantra is recited generally after the Heart Sutra.
Heart Sutra
The heart sutra is probably the most famous of the Buddha’s teachings. It was inspired by Buddha, but apparently spoken by Aviloketeshvara, the principal Mahayana disciple of the Buddha. It was in response to Shariputra’s question: how should a bodhisattva meditate who wishes to practice the profound prajana paramita?
The response apparently shocked the Hinayana crew so much they had heart attacks. Aviloketeshvara negated all phenomena and the entire path.
There is no form, no feeling, no formation…
no suffering, no origin of suffering, no cessation of suffering.
no path, no wisdom, no attainment and no non-attainment…
[however] the bodhisattvas abide by means of prajna paramita
since there is no obscuration of mind, there is no fear…
they awaken to unsurpassable enlightenment
The heart sutra – pdf here – is excellent to recite before morning practice, especially on retreat.
Lojong slogans on Wisdom, Jnana
Point Six: Disciplines of Mind Training
- Slogan 23. Always abide by the three basic principles—Dedication to your practice, refraining from outrageous conduct, developing patience.
- Slogan 24. Change your attitude, but remain natural—Reduce ego clinging, but be yourself.
- Slogan 25. Don’t talk about injured limbs—Don’t take pleasure contemplating others’ defects.
- Slogan 26. Don’t ponder others—Don’t take pleasure contemplating others’ weaknesses.
- Slogan 27. Work with the greatest defilements first—Work with your greatest obstacles first.
- Slogan 28. Abandon any hope of fruition—Don’t get caught up in how you will be in the future, stay in the present moment.
- Slogan 29. Abandon poisonous food.
- Slogan 30. Don’t be so predictable—Don’t hold grudges.
- Slogan 31. Don’t malign others.
- Slogan 32. Don’t wait in ambush—Don’t wait for others’ weaknesses to show to attack them.
- Slogan 33. Don’t bring things to a painful point—Don’t humiliate others.
- Slogan 34. Don’t transfer the ox’s load to the cow—Take responsibility for yourself.Slogan
- 35. Don’t try to be the fastest—Don’t compete with others.
- Slogan 36. Don’t act with a twist—Do good deeds without scheming about benefiting yourself.
- Slogan 37. Don’t turn gods into demons—Don’t use these slogans or your spirituality to increase your self-absorption
- Slogan 38. Don’t seek others’ pain as the limbs of your own happiness.
6 Paramitas from the Tibetan View
The Tantric perspective on the six paramitas is to know them from the Mahayana perspective, of course. Understand them as the virtues, but do not view them as a process requiring cultivation and increase over a long period of time. Instead, see the paramitas as fully developed already, completely 100% perfected in your mindstream. Visualize yourself as the enlightened deity and visualize the paramitas in a symbolic manner.
These are the accouterments of the deity. They vary in different sadhanas, but generally the necklace of jewels or skulls (for a wrathful deity) represents generosity. The bracelets and anklets of silver, gold, snakes or bone symbolize discipline. Earrings equate to patience. The girdle or silk sash represents exertion. The crown ornament, elaborate hair arrangement or upstreaming hair frequently represents meditation (and the crown chakra). A variety of forms represent wisdom – consort, cemetery ash, jewels of the crown (as the five wisdoms) and so forth.
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faq
What is the paramita of wisdom?
The paramita of wisdom is prajnaparamita, the 6th and highest (in this list). It signifies the stable insight into the nature of reality.
What does paramita mean in Buddhism?
Paramita in Buddhism means transcendent virtue or perfection of virtue.
What does paramita mean in Sanskrit?
Paramita in Sanskrit means perfection. It has several translations, but literally it means ‘the other shore.’
What are the six perfections of paramitas?
Dana paramita – Transcendent Generosity
Sila, Shila paramita – Transcendent discipline, moral character
Kshanti, ksanti paramita – Perfect Patience
Virya paramita – Perfect Exertion
Dhyana paramita – Perfect Meditation
Prajna paramita – Transcendent Wisdom, insight
What are the six perfections to become a Bodhisattva?
The six perfections to become a bodhisattva are generosity, discipline, patience, exertion, meditation, and wisdom.
What is the prajnaparamita mantra?
The prajna paramita mantra is Om gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha. It means gone gone, gone beyond, gone completely beyond, awake, so be it.
Conclusion
The 6 paramitas are a primary step by step means of the bodhisattva walking the path of dharma. By moving through them, perfecting them one at a time, even while accessing the higher virtues, there is a culmination of this to the enlightenment of the Buddha.
Prajna paramita is the ultimate paramita, invoking the wisdom of the entire path. With prajna paramita, the bodhisattva sees emptiness directly, stabilizes that seeing, uses it to benefit beings, and abides directly in wisdom mind.
