Putting practice into action, the 10 paramitas.
I spend some time on Reddit and answer questions about Buddhism and mental health. I work in mental health as a meditation teacher and activity specialist at a local mental hospital. I am also a Buddhist minister/priest and both of those together really make a difference. Over the past decade I have held meditation classes and dharma study at my office, there I have a small but dedicated group of people I would sincerely call my 'good Dharma friends. They learn from me a little and I learn from them, alot.
In today's world we have a very complex culture which is a mish mash of other cultures that at one time was proudly called the mixing pot of America, where all these things can come together and enrich eachother and benefit all. Now we have 'diversity' training, cultural appropriation and the ever rich topic of 'colonization'. So where does a practicing Buddhist put thier efforts?
I was having a conversation with my teacher this morning. I am invited to speak on mental health in Australia in August. One of the topics is relating to how Buddhism can help others and to help make Buddhism more understood and accepted. We discussed diversity. Diversity is a fact. We can see it all around us, we can hear it, sense it in all interactions we have in this super connected world of the internet. However, what do you do with that? We then have the choice to accept it, to work with it, to learn and become enriched because of it. Right?
I do my work teaching people how to live better using Buddhism as a life practice. Not necessarily to achieve Nirvana, to get to the Pureland, to achieve merit. But to live in peace and learn to live in this world with people that are diverse. To do this, we have specific trainings to do, the Paramitas.
The Paramitas (which means 'perfections') and we try and perfect our actions to become more at peace with ourselves and the world. Here is how you do that.
The first of the Paramitas is 'Dana' which is simply 'generocity' this does not just mean money. It means time, effort, money, work, and even generocity of love itself. We practice this to help others practice more, and traditionally we want to support our teachers (the monks and nuns) which have no other jobs to make the bills etc, so we give to them when and how we can.
The second is 'Sila' which is the Pali word for 'morality'. Morality is a complex topic and has many layers depending on social norms, laws, culture and tradition. We study and practice being 'moral'. We are trying to live 'right'. Picking up after ourselves, being courteous, following just rules, promoting what is considered 'good' in society, the family and nature.
The third is 'renunciation' or 'Nekkamma' in Pali. What do we renounce? Everything? No. Not for the laity. For The Buddha he did renounce everything, left his palace, cut his hair, gave all his belongings away and renounced that life. We, however, should only consider it if we can. We can renounce other things like gluttony, wastefulness, pitiness, spitefulness, and opulance.
The fourth is 'Khanti' or in English, 'patience'. There is also a hint of foregiveness, and forebearance. This is a very important one and as you can tell, inter twined with the previous ones. Being patient with ourselves, others, the 'way' things are, and being observant. This is where meditation really can make a differrence. Especially insight meditations. We start to see changes in our 'fuse' when we develop patience.
Fifth is 'Energy' or in Pali called as 'Virya' (similar to virile and similar words, right?)/ We use and develop our energy, our enthusiasm and effort to do and be better. This is a core concept in the paramis that feeds all the others as well. To keep our energy up for this work, we need to also meditate on the hows and whys we are pracaticing at all.
Sixth is on the list is 'meditation' or
Skillful means (honesty) in Pali Sacca.
Resolution/ Determination (Adhitthana)
Metta or loving kindness and good will.
Wisdom (Panna)
The difference between the Paramis and Paramitas. (Paramitas mostly Northern and Eastern). i.e. Mahayana. In the Paramis but not in the Paramitas is renunciation, Truthfuilness, Determination, and knowledge.
