AQA · GCSE · Religious Studies
Course version: 8062 · Version from Sept 2018
The six perfections in the Mahayanan tradition:
Full specification wording
Buddhism - 3.1.1.2 Practices: The six perfections in the Mahayanan tradition:
The Six Perfections (Paramitas) are fundamental to Mahayana Buddhism, serving as the primary path for a Bodhisattva seeking enlightenment to help all sentient beings.
Checked against the AQA 8062 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 23 of 29
- 2 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The Six Perfections (Paramitas) are fundamental to Mahayana Buddhism, serving as the primary path for a Bodhisattva seeking enlightenment to help all sentient beings. They provide a comprehensive framework for spiritual and ethical development. The six qualities are generosity, morality, patience, energy, meditation, and wisdom. Rather than just a list of rules, they are interconnected virtues cultivated together.
For example: A Buddhist might practice these by volunteering at a food bank (generosity) while maintaining a calm mind when faced with difficult people (patience), ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of the interconnected nature of reality (wisdom).
What earns the marks
- Identify the Six Perfections as the primary spiritual path of the Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism.
- List the six perfections accurately: generosity, morality, patience, energy, meditation, and wisdom.
- Explain that cultivating these virtues helps Buddhists overcome selfishness and move towards enlightenment.
- Describe how the perfections are interconnected, with wisdom often seen as the culmination that directs the other five.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing the Six Perfections with the Eightfold Path.
Put it right by specifying that the Six Perfections are specifically emphasised in the Mahayana Bodhisattva path.
Assuming they are only for monks.
Put it right by explaining that lay Buddhists also practice the Six Perfections in their daily lives.
Listing incorrect virtues; correct this by memorising the specific six: generosity, morality, patience, energy, meditation, and wisdom.
Exam tips
- Use the term 'Bodhisattva' when discussing the Six Perfections to show a clear understanding of Mahayana concepts.
- Memorise at least three of the perfections to use as concrete examples in longer evaluation questions.
- Link the practice of the Six Perfections to the ultimate goal of achieving Buddhahood for the sake of all sentient beings.
Try the lesson
The start of the Buddhism - 3.1.1.2 Practices: The six perfections in the Mahayanan tradition: lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which of the following is one of the six perfections (paramitas) in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition?
Listen
The Six Perfections (Paramitas) are fundamental to Mahayana Buddhism, serving as the primary path for a Bodhisattva seeking enlightenment to help all sentient beings. They provide a comprehensive framework for spiritual and ethical development. The six qualities are generosity, morality, patience, energy, meditation, and wisdom. Rather than just a list of rules, they are interconnected virtues cultivated together. For example, a Buddhist might practice these by volunteering at a food bank (generosity) while maintaining a calm mind when faced with difficult people (patience), ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of the interconnected nature of reality (wisdom). A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify the Six Perfections as the primary spiritual path of the Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism. List the six perfections accurately: generosity, morality, patience, energy, meditation, and wisdom. Explain that cultivating these virtues helps Buddhists overcome selfishness and move towards enlightenment. Describe how the perfections are interconnected, with wisdom often seen as the culmination that directs the other five. A common slip: Confusing the Six Perfections with the Eightfold Path. Instead, specifying that the Six Perfections are specifically emphasised in the Mahayana Bodhisattva path. Exam tip: Use the term 'Bodhisattva' when discussing the Six Perfections to show a clear understanding of Mahayana concepts.
See it
Key words
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Mahayana Buddhism
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Bodhisattva ideal
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See every definition
- Mahayana Buddhism
- The tradition in which the Six Perfections are fundamental, serving as the primary path for a Bodhisattva seeking enlightenment to help all sentient beings.
- Bodhisattva ideal
- The path of a Bodhisattva seeking enlightenment to help all sentient beings, for which the Six Perfections are the primary path.
Label the diagram
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1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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