A Bodhisattva's Six "Perfections"

(paramita)

1. charity (dana)

liberality in relation to others

2. conduct (sila)

good morals including setting a good example

3. forbearance (ksanti)

primary a prudential virtue (having patience is for one's own good)

4. energy, radiance (virya)

the fullest development of this perfection along with the preceding three entails being reborn in (the most beautiful of objects) a body of a Buddha

5. meditation (dhyana)

the fullest development of this perfection along with the preceding four entails attainment of the highest temporal happiness -- ecstatic meditation

6. wisdom, insight (prajna)

the supreme perfection consisting of insight into the emptiness (sunyata) of all phenomena; the ultimate good of all living beings, whose fullest development amounts to the attainment of a "spiritual body" (dharma-kaya)


Some early Indian views of a summum bonum or "supreme personal good":

1. Vedantic theism: to become a divine individual, an avatara

2. Advaita Vedanta: to realize yourself as Brahman, the Absolute, the One

3. Samkhya: to realize yourself as complete in yourself, distinct from and disidentified with Nature

4. Southern Buddhism: to realize Nirvana

5. Northern Buddhism (Mahayana): to become a Bodhisattva