Whatever your practice is, - yoga, zen, meditation or simple morning walk in silence, there are principles that will help you make it more insightful, deep and helpful. In Tibetan Buddhism these principles are also called “paramitas” (“perfection” from Sanskrit). It is said that by following these perfections we reach deeper states of mind and our practice gets into new level.

I have been thinking on paramitas for a while, trying to integrate them into my life, my yoga, my Buddhism reading. They can really change your classes if you let it happen. The first five paramitas are called conceptual as we raise merit by following them. Merit here means some good deals, some good karma we gather during our practice.

1. Generosity

Generosity towards your teachers is very important. You don’t have to be rich to be generous. Anything you gift to other beings with light in your heart is considered as generosity. You can gift a flower, a good thought, or a mandala, good words, emotions, hug, - anything. Generosity means being open to others, not suppressing your creativeness and willing to communicate. Give and you will have it in return. We free and clean our heart by being generous and by giving to others.

2. Discipline

Be sure you have correct motivation and mood in your practice and learning. Most people who start their practice put an aim of improving their health or getting calmer, or reaching some extraordinary magic abilities. Undoubtfully, these can serve a good motivation in the beginning, but in order to reach truly deep practice and results, we should cultivate compassion and desire to help other beings. If you think your practice lacks this transpersonal meaning, seek for compassion and helping motives in your heart.

3. Patience

Patience perfection is an ability to deal with light inconveniences in your body. Sometimes we may feel too hot or too cold during important class, sometimes we feel discomfort caused by long sitting in the same posture and sometimes the class/meditation is too tiring. Try to evaluate experience you get and understand that you can deal with this short discomfort for the sake of new knowledge. And after all, if you came here anyway why waste your valuable time and distract?

4. Diligence

Diligence perfection means being delightful for experience and knowledge you get. You should try to fully absorb directions of your teacher. You should think on the topic and ask yourself, “Did I understand that? What does it mean to me personally? Can I remember it?” Strong will to accept everything and delight from new experience is diligence paramita.

5. Concentration

This perfection depends on your ability to stay focused on the teacher and class. You shouldn’t get distracted with sounds from the street, random thoughts and light body sensations. If you happened to come to this class, try to open your heart and listen.

6. Wisdom

Wisdom paramita means being conscious and aware of class/meditation/teaching essence, its impact on the life of others and its role in reality. Think over new knowledge from different angles, taste it, analyze it. In Mahayana Buddhism wisdom paramita also means understanding and direct realization of relative truth and absolute truth (primary emptiness) of any teaching.

Learning your practice using these 6 paramitas is extremely helpful and you will notice it affecting all the aspects of your path. Combining these methods and the knowledge is the fastest way to understanding and liberation.

I have noticed that these recommendations make me more attentive and open. Our Western mind is often so lazy and closed to new teaching, the teacher or the practice. We lose so many opportunities with this…

Picture taken from alicepopkorn Flickr profile

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