Seventh Paramita

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Nicholas Weeks
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Seventh Paramita

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Nagarjuna, in his Ratnavali lists compassion as the 7th paramita. Granted that compassion is a key teaching of Mahayana, but has anyone seen another paramita list where there is a 7th one? This is excluding the final four that are found in the standard list of ten.
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
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Aemilius
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Re: Seventh Paramita

Post by Aemilius »

Will wrote:Nagarjuna, in his Ratnavali lists compassion as the 7th paramita. Granted that compassion is a key teaching of Mahayana, but has anyone seen another paramita list where there is a 7th one? This is excluding the final four that are found in the standard list of ten.
I have seen it somewhere explained that Upaya (Skilful Means) equals Compassion, in that it is an active form of Compassion. Har Dayal explains Seven Paramitas in Bodhisattva Doctrine in Sanskrit Buddhist Literature, he says it is by far the most important of the four remaining ones, also with the emphasis on active Compassion.
svaha
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Sarvē mānavāḥ svatantrāḥ samutpannāḥ vartantē api ca, gauravadr̥śā adhikāradr̥śā ca samānāḥ ēva vartantē. Ētē sarvē cētanā-tarka-śaktibhyāṁ susampannāḥ santi. Api ca, sarvē’pi bandhutva-bhāvanayā parasparaṁ vyavaharantu."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1. (in english and sanskrit)
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