In Buddhism this world of ignorance and stupidity is metaphorically called “this shore,” while the ideal realm of enlightenment is “the other shore.” Between the two flows the great ocean of saṃsāra, birth-death. The great vehicle is that which can transport many people at a time to the other shore. The term pāramitā (perfection), a central concept of Mahayana, means literally “gone” (itā) “to the other shore” (pāram). The Mo-ho pan-jo po-lo-mi ching (translated by Kumārajīva in 404, T. 223) states:

What then is the bodhisattva, the mahāsattva, the Mahayana? It is indeed necessary to know, to set out on the great vehicle. Where does this vehicle depart from, where does this vehicle arrive at, where does it remain? Who should board it and set out? . . . The question has been asked what is the bodhisattva, the mahāsattva, and the Mahayana. … The six perfections, these are the bodhisattva, the mahāsattva, the Mahayana. What are these six perfections? They are the perfections of giving [dāna], morality [śīla], forbearance [kṣānti], vigor [vīrya], meditation [samādhi], and wisdom [prajña].