The Paramis are ten states of mind, attitudes, or behaviors that lead to peace. They are not isolated qualities but are interrelated, without strict boundaries or definitions, and flow fluidly into one another. Practicing the Paramis involves holding them lightly in awareness and maintaining balance as we navigate daily life. They support and shape how we speak, work, relate to others, reflect inwardly, make decisions, and chart our life path.
Awakening to the Paramis was the Annual Teaching Series for 2024. This is a link to all of the yearly teaching series.
Having a willingness to open to all things, to share with others, and contemplate abundance
Being willing to undertake the training to live within the 5 precepts.
Our level of willingness to participant in mental development.
Cultivating the capacity to stop our resistance to the truth of an experience.
The willingness to connect with and care about other sentient beings.
One way the Paramis balance each other is to flow into one another. Practicing one leads to the arising of the next. In this way, each Parami both grows out of the quality before it and strengthens the next.
Another way we balance the Paramis is through use of the two wings of the Dhamma – wisdom and compassion. Each Parami represents a particular aspect of wisdom and compassion. We can learn to balance both aspects in each Parami.
A third way the Paramis balance each other is like a kaleidoscope where all ten Paramis are present and interwoven with each other.
Cultivating the capacity to abandon our attachments.
Being able to see or consider the implications of the 3 Characteristics in any experience.
Paying attention to the truthfulness of words and actions.
The degree in which we are willing to follow our aspiration to practice.
Being willing to consider phenomena outside our opinions and judgments.
