Tendai Lotus School Teachings, p 23-24Q: What practices should be cultivated after arousing the aspiration for enlightenment?
A: One should cultivate the practice of the Six Perfections.
Q: What are the Six Perfections?
A: They are (1) dāna-pāramitā, (2) śīla-pāramitā, (3) kṣānti-pāramitā, (4) vīrya-pāramitā, (5) dhyāna-pāramitā, and (6) prajña-pāramitā.
Q: Are dāna-pāramitā and so forth Sanskrit or Chinese?
A: They are Sanskrit terms.
Q: What are the Chinese equivalents?
A: Dāna means “charity.” Pāramitā means “to reach the other shore,” to leave behind this shore of the cyclic world of birth and death and arrive at the other shore of Nirvāṇa. The term Śīla refers to the precepts. Kṣānti means “patience.” Vīrya means “diligence.” Dhyāna means “putting an end to evil [delusions through meditation].” Prajña means “wisdom.”
Q: What obstacles are overcome through the Perfections of charity, and so forth?
A: Covetousness is overcome through the Perfection of charity. The breaking of precepts is overcome through [the keeping of] precepts. Anger is overcome through patience. Slothfulness is overcome through diligence. Distraction and confusion are overcome through meditation. Ignorance is overcome through wisdom.
Q: How long must one cultivate these Six Perfections?
A: One must pass through three incalculable aeons.
