Developing the 10 Paramis in a Vipassana Meditation Retreat

Sharing by Jason Ow

What is Parami?

Good mental qualities that one must perfect to reach the final goal

Goal: Stage of total egolessness or liberation

10 Jars

Jars of Different Sizes

1. Nekkhama - Renunciation

Become a Monk or a Nun Without personal possessions Beg for his or her daily food Purpose: dissolving the ego

How can lay people develop this parami? In the Retreat, we live on the charity of others No charges for food and lodging

2. Sila - Morality

Following the 5 precepts at all times In the Retreat, there is no opportunity to

break the precepts because of the heavy program and discipline

Noble Silence

3. Viriya - Effort

In daily life, one makes effort to earn one’s livelihood

In the Retreat, we makes effort to purify the mind by remaining aware and equanimous .

4. Panna - Wisdom

In the outside world, we gain wisdom from reading books or listening to others (intellectual understanding)

The real parami of wisdom is the understanding that develops within ourselves, by our own experience in meditation

5. Khanti - Tolerance

During the Retreat,we may find ourselves becoming disturbed and irritated by the action of another people.

Instead of becoming angry, we feel only love and compassion for that person.

6. Sacca - Truth

By practising sila, we undertake to maintain truthfulness at the vocal level.

Sacca must be practised in a deeper sense Every step on the path must be a step with

truth, from gross to ultimate truth We must always remain with the reality that

we experience at the present moment

7. Adhitthana – Strong Determination

We makes a determination to remain for the entire period of the retreat

We determine to follow the heavy timetable and strict discipline

During Group Sitting, we determine to meditate for the entire hour without opening our eyes, hands and legs

8. Metta – Selfless love

In our daily life, we tried to feel love and goodwill for others at the conscious level only.

At the unconscious level, the old tensions continued.

When the entire mind is purified, then from the depths we can wish for the happiness of others.

Selfless love – love without expecting anything in return

9. Upekkha - Equanimity

We learn to keep the balance of the mind not only when we experience pain, but also in the face of pleasant sensation.

In every situation, we understand that the experience of that moment is impermanent, bound to pass away.

With this understanding, we develop this parami of Upekkha

10. Dana – Generosity

Whatever we receive in the retreat is donated by another person; there are no charges.

In turn, we are able to give donations for the benefits of someone else.

The amount will vary according to one’s means.

Give without expecting anything in return

Keep practising

Develop the 10 Paramis little by little and keep progressing in the path of Dhamma.

May all beings be happy !