The Six Perfections: Buddhism and the Cultivation of Character

by Dale Wright

Here is a lucid, accessible, and inspiring guide to the six perfections--Buddhist teachings about six dimensions of human character that require "perfecting": generosity, morality, tolerance, energy, meditation, and wisdom. Drawing on the Diamond Sutra, the Large Sutra on Perfect Wisdom, and other essential Mahayana texts, Dale Wright shows how these teachings were understood and practiced in classical Mahayana Buddhism and how they can be adapted to contemporary life in a global society. What would the perfection of generosity look like today, for example? What would it mean to give with neither ulterior motives nor naivet�? Devoting a separate chapter to each of the six perfections, Wright combines sophisticated analysis with real-life applications. Buddhists have always stressed self-cultivation, the uniquely human freedom that opens the possibility of shaping the kind of life we will live and the kind of person we will become. For those interested in ideals of human character and practices of self-cultivation, The Six Perfections offers invaluable guidance.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Nonfiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2009

Reviews

[Mark Legan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I treasure the long afternoons spent working through this book. It is clear, lucid and engaging. The analysis of the meaning behind the Buddhist concept of "emptiness" was the most profound insight I gained from reading this work. When I first began reading about Buddhism, I felt like someone in a beautiful garden with so many delights for the mind. Then the word "emptiness" started to crop up, and it was like I had come abruptly to the edge of the Grand Canyon and was not sure how to proceed. I am still uncertain about its meaning but feel like I have a much better basis and context for the concept as I continue to explore Buddhism. The book I read immediately before this was the Dalai Lama's Ethics for the New Millennium which this book complements beautifully. The six perfections offer a comprehensive platform for a global ethic and The Six Perfections, Buddhism and the Cultivation of Character presents the case thoughtfully, with thoroughness and a carefully reasoned modern perspective.

[Barbara O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have read on the Six Perfections. Robert Aitken Roshi's book on the Six Perfections is good, too, but I found Wright's book more informative and insightful. And Aitken is one of my favorite Zen authors.

[Andrew Grose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, lucid and very well thought out analysis of Buddhist ideals for a modern reader. Highly recommended.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book about Buddhism and it's relevance to life today.