My Progress on Acquiring the Qualities in the “Six Perfections” (Paramitas) of Buddhism
for the 6 Weeks prior to my 72nd Birthday

As readers of my books and blog posts know, I have been a practicing Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhist since 1996/1989/1983 and many lifetimes prior to this.
Fundamental parts of being this type of meditator are studying, attempting to gain the qualities and do the practices (and others) described at the end of this post, known as “The Six Perfections” (Paramitas).

From https://www.namchak.org/community/blog/six-perfections-or-paramitas/

And, also check out: https://act4tibet.wordpress.com/2022/03/27/6paramitas/

For the six weeks prior to my birthday (July 17 – August 22, 2026), I plan to blog once each Friday about each of these qualities and my difficulties and seeming successes over the last 30 years of intensively practicing within this framework.
I have been studying and contemplating them and incorporating these as much as possible into daily life. Time for a self-assessment.

Stay tuned and check in each subsequent week, and please add your own experiences in the comments. Check this location for future posts: https://sallyember.com/2026/07/10/my-progress-on-acquiring-the-qualities-in-the-six-perfections-paramitas-of-buddhism-for-the-6-weeks-prior-to-my-72nd-birthday/

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The Six Paramitas (Six Perfections) 

The 6 Paramitas or Perfections

Representing “bodhichitta in action,” the 6 Perfections (“Transcending Perfections” = Paramitas) shift the focus from self-attachment to benefiting others. 

1. Generosity (Dāna)

• The Practice: Giving without attachment, expectation, or the need for recognition. It involves giving material goods, but also your time, energy, and fearlessness.
• Start small. Practice offering a smile, a listening ear, or basic necessities without needing a “thank you.” Focus on the intent rather than the size of the gift. 

2. Ethical Discipline (Śīla)

• The Practice: Refraining from causing harm to yourself and others. It is the foundation of a stable, peaceful mind.
• Frame morality not as a strict set of rules, but as an act of non-violence. Honoring basic precepts builds trust and eliminates the heavy burdens of guilt and regret. 

3. Patience (Kṣhānti)

• The Practice: The ability to endure difficulties, insults, and hardships without becoming perturbed or seeking revenge.
• Recognize the gap between a trigger (e.g., someone cutting you off in traffic) and the automatic reaction of anger. Try to maintain an open, steadfast heart in uncomfortable moments. 

4. Diligence / Enthusiastic Effort (Vīrya)

• The Practice: Joyful perseverance on the spiritual path. It is the energy that drives the other five perfections.
• Find joy in daily practice rather than viewing it as a chore. Four types of diligence: cultivating new good qualities, maintaining existing good ones, abandoning existing vices, and preventing future ones. 

5. Meditative Concentration (Dhyāna)

• The Practice: Training the mind to stay focused, clear, and undistracted.
• Learn basic mindfulness or breath-counting meditations. Concentration allows us to see reality clearly without being swept away by our emotional reactions. 

6. Wisdom (Prajñā)

• The Practice: The perfect discernment of phenomena and the realization of emptiness (no independent, fixed self).
• Encourage inquiry. Investigate how things change and interdepend. Distinguish between conceptual thinking and direct, experiential knowing.