This doctrine teaches us the six kinds of practice that
bodhisattvas should follow to attain enlightenment. The “Six Perfections” are “Donation”, “Keeping
the Precepts”, “Perseverance”, “Assiduity”, “Meditation”, and “Wisdom”.
A bodhisattva is a person who, wishes not only to
extinguish his own illusions but to save others as well. Therefore, the
doctrine of the “Six Perfections”
has the salvation of all living beings as its goal.
The practice of
“Donation” comes first in this doctrine. There are three kinds of “Donation”: donating material goods,
donating the Law, and donating fearlessness (the body). The first means to give
others money or goods. The second refers to teaching others correctly. The
third means to remove the anxieties or sufferings of others through one's own
effort. Everyone can do some form of donation. Some examples of “Donation” are; A person who is
physical disabled that has knowledge or wisdom in some field should be able to
teach others or guide them. Someone who cannot afford to do so, can be useful
to others and to society by offering his services. No matter how impoverished
one is, they should be able to give alms or to support a public work with
however small a “Donation”. To speak
of his own experiences to others can be a “Donation”
of the Law. A person of humble circumstances can perform “Donation” of the Law by teaching
others how to knit for example. It is essential that we be useful to others by
practicing these three kinds of “Donation”
within the limits of our ability
The practice of “Keeping
the Precepts” (Morality) is the second of the “Six Perfections”. This teaches us that we cannot truly help others
unless we ourselves are living an upright life according to the precepts given
by the Buddha. We must not think that we cannot guide others just because we
are not perfect ourselves. A major point of “Keeping the Precepts” is to render service to others. The more we
do for others, the more we can elevate ourselves, and the more we elevate
ourselves, the more we can render service to others. Each reinforces the other.
The third of the “Six
Perfections” is “Perseverance” (Patience
enduring hardship). A quality that is
especially important for people today. Shakyamuni Buddha was endowed with all
the virtues and became the Buddha through constant practice. Although it is a
sin against him to emphasize only one of his virtues, the greatest virtue of
the Buddha as a man seems to have been his generosity. No matter what biography
of Shakyamuni Buddha, which of the sutras we read, we find that nowhere is it
recorded that the Buddha ever became angry. However severely they persecuted
him and however coldly his disciples turned against him and departed from him,
he was always sympathetic and compassionate.
If I were to explain with a single phrase the character
of Shakyamuni Buddha as a man, I would answer without hesitation, “A person of
perfect generosity.” “Perseverance” is,
in short, generosity. As we persevere in the practice of the bodhisattvas, we
cease to become angry or reproachful toward others, or toward anything in the
universe. We are apt to complain about the weather when it rains and to grumble
about the dust when we have a spell of fine weather.
However, when through “Perseverance” we attain a calm and untroubled mind, we become
thankful for both the rain and the sun. Then our minds become free from changes
in our circumstances.
When we advance farther, we come not only to have no
feelings of anger and hatred toward those who hurt, insult, or betray us but
even to wish actively to help them. On the other hand, flattery or praise for
the good should not sway us we from what we may do, but should quietly reflect
on our conduct. We should not feel superior to others, but should maintain a
modest attitude when everything goes smoothly. All these attitudes come from “Perseverance”. Though we cannot attain
such a state of mind immediately, we can attain an attitude of compassion
toward those who cause difficulties for us sooner than we expect. We ought to
advance at least to this level. If
people throughout the world practiced this kind of “Perseverance”, this alone would establish peace and make humanity
immeasurably happily.
The fourth of these “Six
Perfections” is “Assiduity”.
This means to go straight toward an important target without being distracted
by trivial things. We cannot say we are assiduous when our ideas and conduct
are impure, even if we devote ourselves to the study and practice of the
Buddha's teachings. When we devote ourselves to study and practice, we
sometimes do not meet with good results or may even obtain adverse effects, or
others may hinder us in our spiritual practice. However, such matters are like
waves rippling on the surface of the ocean; they are only phantoms, which will disappear
when the wind dies down. Therefore, once we have decided to practice the
bodhisattva-way, we should advance single-mindedly toward our destination
without turning aside. This is “Assiduity”.
The fifth of the “Six
Perfections” is “Meditation” (Concentration).
It is important for us to Devote ourselves to the practice of the Buddha's
teachings. Also, to view things
thoroughly with a calm mind and to think them over. Only then we can see the
true aspect of all things and discover the right way to cope with them.
The right way of seeing things and the power of
discerning the true aspect of all things is “Wisdom”, the last of the “Six
Perfections”. We cannot save others without having “Wisdom”. Thus, though we
may do something useful for others or practice good conduct to help them, none
of our mercy or kindness is effective unless we have true “Wisdom”. Far from being effective, our mercy may have a harmful
effect. Therefore, “Wisdom” is an
absolutely indispensable condition in
practicing the bodhisattva-way.
THE SIX PERFECTIONS
l. DONATION “Makes
a miserly one raise the mind of “Donation”
to
serve sincerely the community and other people.
2. KEEPING THE
PRECEPTS “Makes an arrogant one raise the mind of
Keeping
the Precepts” to remove the mind
of
arrogance
and to admonish and discipline oneself.
3. PERSEVERANCE “Makes
an irritable one raise the mind of Perseverance”
to
remove anger and to endure.
4. ASSIDUITY “Makes
an idle one raise the mind of Assiduity”
to
endeavor
constantly.
5. MEDITATION “Makes a distracted one raise the mind of Meditation”
to calm one's mind and not be agitated.
6. WISDOM “Makes
an ignorant one raise the mind of Wisdom”
to
remove
prejudice and evil thinking through correct
judgment.