Ten paramitas

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The ten paramitas (Skt. daśa pāramitā; Wyl. pha rol tu phyin pa bcu) are the six paramitas plus:

  • the paramita of skilful means (Skt. upāyakauśalapāramitā; Tib. tap la khepa; Wyl. thabs),
  • the paramita of strength (Skt. balapāramitā; Tib. top; Wyl. stobs),
  • the paramita of aspiration prayers (Skt. praṇidhānapāramitā; Tib. mönlam; Wyl. smon lam) and
  • the paramita of primordial wisdom (Skt. jñānapāramitā; Tib. yeshe; Wyl. ye shes).

These four paramitas are aspects of the sixth paramita—the paramita of wisdom—and are not added to the first six. The way of dividing the paramitas into ten is particularly related to the teachings on the bhumis which describe the progression of a bodhisattva where each of the paramitas are successively perfected on each of the ten bhumis.