“When receiving the teachings, it is important to have the correct attitude. It is not practicing the Dharma properly to listen with the intention of gaining material advantage or reputation. Neither should our goal be higher rebirth in the next lif…
“When receiving the teachings, it is important to have the correct attitude. It is not practicing the Dharma properly to listen with the intention of gaining material advantage or reputation. Neither should our goal be higher rebirth in the next life, nor should we be wishing only for our own liberation from samsara. These are all attitudes we should reject. Instead, let us listen to the teachings with the determined wish to attain the state of omniscience for the sake of all beings.”
― Dalai Lama XIV - For the Benefit of All Beings: A Commentary on the Way of the Bodhisattva
In studying the paramitas (which is the Sanskrit word for perfections), it is good for us to really understand what a paramita is, and what the term means. Oftentimes, the type of mind that we have hears this word "perfection" and considers it to be something unreachable.
Of course, the path of the Bodhisattva is defined by the six primary perfections, or paramitas. But these paramitas should not be understood as "plateaus," as six levels of achievement; they do relate to Bodhisattva levels, or bhumis, which are degrees of attainment, but they do not indicate to us that we have to perfect each quality in order to advance to the next one. They do build one upon another: but the "perfection" of the first is not required in order to develop the second, and so on.
In fact, these six qualities, or paramitas, are all interrelated and interdependent. Truly, they are just different facets of Bodhichitta; they are just different aspects of a quality of mind, a quality of consciousness. It is probably more useful, more understandable, if we think of paramita - instead of relating it to the usual translation of "perfection" - we think of it instead as an "attitude."
"Few of us are satisfied with retreating from the world and just working on ourselves. We want our training to manifest and to be of benefit. The bodhisattva-warrior, therefore, makes a vow to wake up not just for himself but for the welfare of all beings."
― Pema Chodron
#gnosis #gnosticism #esotericism #mysticism #esotericknowledge #alchemy #knowthyself #dharma #bodhisattva
