The 3 Stages of Mental Perfection:
The 10 Mental Perfections (paramis = paramitas) are:
1: Generosity (Dāna)
2: Morality (Sīla)
3: Withdrawal (Nekkhamma)
4: Understanding (Pañña)
5: Enthusiastic Energy (Viriya)
6: Patient Forbearance (Khanti)
7: Honesty & Truthfulness (Sacca)
8: Resolute Determination (Adhitthāna)
9: Kind Friendliness (Mettā)
10: Balanced Equanimity (Upekkhā)
The Buddha said:
"These few supreme mental qualities, will culminate in awakening.
There is nothing elsewhere beyond them! Be thorough, firm and
systematic to complete them all..."
These 10 mental perfections are developed to three levels:
I: Those who awaken as disciples = Savaka-Bodhis give all possessions away
including wife and kids to perfect generosity. (Similar level with the 9 other
perfections...)
II: Those who awaken as Solitary Buddhas = Pacceka-Buddhas give an
organ, limb or eye away to perfect generosity. (Similar level with the 9 other
perfections...)
III: Those who awaken as Perfect Buddhas = Sammāsam-Buddhas give
even their own life away to perfect generosity. (Similar level with the 9 other
perfections...)
The basic perfection of generosity is the relinquishing of one's children,
wives, and belongings, such as wealth. The intermediate perfection of
giving is the relinquishing of one's own limbs. The ultimate perfection of
giving is the relinquishing of one's own life. The 3 stages in the perfection
of morality should be understood as the non-transgression of morality on
account of the three: children and wife, limbs, and life. The three stages in
the perfection of withdrawal is the withdrawal of those three bases after
cutting off attachment to them. The 3 perfections of understanding is the
discrimination between what is advantageous or detrimental to beings after
rooting out craving for one's belongings, limbs, and life. The three stages in
the perfection of energy is striving for the relinquishing of these 3things.
The three stages in the perfection of patience is tolerance to obstacles
to one's belongings, limbs, and life. The 3 stages of perfection of Honesty
is the non-abandoning of honesty due to one's belongings, limbs, and life.
The 3 stages of perfection of determination, as unshakeable determination
despite the destruction of one's belongings, limbs, & life, bearing in mind
that perfections ultimately succeed through an unflinching determination!
The three stages in the perfection of friendliness is the maintaining of
friendliness towards any one, who destroys one's belongings! The 3 stages
in the perfection of equanimity is maintaining an attitude of imperturbable
impartial neutrality towards all beings and phenomena, whether they are
helpful or harmful in regard to ones belongings, limbs, and life. In this way
should the analysis of the mental perfections be understood.
Source: Commentary on the Basket of behaviour. Trnsl. by Bhikkhu Bodhi in
Discourse on the All-Embracing Net of Views
More on the 10 Mental Perfections:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/paramii.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Ten_Perfections.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/The_10_Perfections_Explained.htm
Perfection!
