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 !