Six mental factors that, when held by the force of a bodhichitta aim and strengthened, serve as causes for attaining enlightenment. Literally, states of mind that "have gone to the other shore," namely the other shore of being a limited being. As a Buddha, these states of mind have been strengthened to the maximum and, in this sense, have become "perfect." Thus the name of the result ("perfections") is also given to its cause. The six are generosity, ethical self-discipline, patience, perseverance, concentration or mental stability, and wisdom or discriminating awareness.
Tibetan: ཕ་རོལ་ཏུ་ཕྱིན་པ་དྲུག pha-rol-tu phyin-pa drug
Sanskrit: ṣaṭpāramitā
Synonyms: Six paramitas; Six far-reaching attitudes
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