Editing Pāramitā (section)

=== Tibetan Buddhism ===
According to the perspective of [[Tibetan Buddhism]], the practice of accumulating paramitas is generally considered very important. In most contexts, they are seen as a fundamental basis for practice of the higher teachings, such as [[Vajrayana]]. The [[14th Dalai Lama|Dalai Lama]] has said:<blockquote>To attain enlightenment, we need better rebirths; and the six perfections – in particular, far-reaching ethical self-discipline – enable us to attain better rebirths. We won’t be able to help others materially if we aren’t wealthy, and so we need to cultivate generosity. We need virtuous friends, and so we must reject anger and practice patience. In order to accomplish anything, we need perseverance. To gain friends, we must control our disturbing emotions, and so we must practice mental constancy (concentration). And finally, to really be effective in helping others, we need the discriminating awareness (wisdom) of knowing what is beneficial and what is of harm. Therefore, we need to cultivate all six far-reaching attitudes.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=The Necessity of the Six Perfections and the Validity of Their Source |url=https://studybuddhism.com/en/advanced-studies/lam-rim/bodhichitta/the-dalai-lama-on-the-six-perfections-six-paramitas/the-necessity-of-the-six-perfections-and-the-validity-of-their-source |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=studybuddhism.com |language=en}}</ref></blockquote>Similarly, concerning the six paramitas, or "the six far-reaching attitudes," and how they relate to the practice of the three [[Yana (Buddhism)|vehicles]] of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama has said: <blockquote>The [[Hinayana]] path is the preliminary path, the [[Mahayana]] sutra one is the main path, and [[tantra]] is something to train in only as a branch. The four [[Siddhanta|tenet systems]] are like stairs. The higher systems highlight contradictions in the lower ones, but by knowing the lower, we can appreciate the profundity of the higher. The higher systems are vast and profound since they do not contradict logic. If we are aware of the areas in which we can make mistakes, it helps us to stay on the right path and have confidence in it. Thus, the study of the tenet systems gives stability to our view. Then, on the basis of the six far-reaching attitudes and [[Bodhicitta|bodhichitta]], we will be able to fulfill our own aims and those of others.<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>[[Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche]] renders "pāramitā" into English as "transcendent action" and then frames and qualifies it:
{{blockquote|When we say that ''paramita'' means "transcendent action," we mean it in the sense that actions or attitude are performed in a non-egocentric manner.  "Transcendental" does not refer to some external reality, but rather to the way in which we conduct our lives and perceive the world – either in an egocentric or a non-egocentric way.  The six ''paramitas'' are concerned with the effort to step out of the egocentric mentality.<ref>Ray, Reginald A. (ed.) (2004). ''In the Presence of Masters:  Wisdom from 30 Contemporary Tibetan Buddhist Teachers''. Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Shambala. {{ISBN|1-57062-849-1}} (pbk.) p.&nbsp;140.</ref>}}

The initial four perfections involve [[skillful means]] practice, while the last two pertain to wisdom practice. Together, they encompass all the necessary methods and skills to dispel delusion and meet the needs of others, and to rise from states of contentment to even greater happiness.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Wangchen|first1=Geshe Namgyal|title=Step by Step: Basic Buddhist Meditations|date=September 8, 2009|publisher=Wisdom Publications|isbn=978-0861716005|pages=137|edition=Revised|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C3Ky1zGpzlUC&q=skilfull+mean+six+perfections&pg=PA137|access-date=November 19, 2020|archive-date=April 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427124815/https://books.google.com/books?id=C3Ky1zGpzlUC&q=skilfull+mean+six+perfections&pg=PA137|url-status=live}}</ref>