The Six Paramitas | Martin Goodson

Mahākāśyapa receiving the special transmission of the Dharma from the Buddha

by Wikicommons
Exercises in mindfulness
Feb 10, 2021
Martin Goodson

The six paramitas form the central practice formulation for Mahayana Buddhism.

Introduction to the Six Paramitas

The Six Paramitas
The six paramitas form the central practice of Mahayana Buddhism.

The Six Paramitas: 1. Giving

Exercise in Mindfulness
The practice of giving isn't just for collecting merit. The giving away of 'myself' is fundamental to Zen training.

The Six Paramitas: 2. Discipline

Exercises in Mindfulness
We examine what's really meant by discipline in Zen practice. 

The Six Paramitas: 3. Patient Endurance

Exercises in Mindfulness 
If we can 'sit' with our impulses, we might find that they leave of their own accord.

The Six Paramitas: 4. Devoted Energy

Exercises in Mindfulness 
This powerful source of energy, that we often run away from, is the key to awakening in the Zen path.

The Six Paramitas: 5. Meditation

Exercises in mindfulness
In meditation or dhyana, we find the application of all the previous paramitas.

The Six Paramitas: 6. Wisdom

Exercises in mindfulness
Prajna (wisdom) is the ‘informing information’ inherent in all things

Topics

EXERCISES IN MINDFULNESS
GETTING STARTED
POEMS
SITTING MEDITATION (ZAZEN)
STORIES
TROUBLESHOOTING ZEN STUDY & PRACTICE

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Further reading
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The Five Hindrances | Martin Goodson

These are the factors that hinder progress in meditation and daily life practice.

“Is there someone else I can ask?”

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Why can life be so upsetting? Cut through the mental noise in this simple exercise. 

Chanting

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The benefits of chanting are many! Find out how to get started in this introduction to a key component of Buddhist practice.

What is Samadhi Power?

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Daily life practice gives us the key to freeing the mind.