“Fulfilling My Perfection of Morality”: The Origin and Development of the Concept śīla-pāramitā (Part 1)

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The concept of śīla-pāramitā (Pali. sīlapāramī), “the perfection of morality” is one of a collection of spiritual virtues accomplished by a bodhisattva for achieving Buddhahood. This paper explores the origin and development of śīla-pāramitā by tracing its roots from early Buddhist scriptures to its later articulations in the Cariyāpiṭaka and early Mahāyāna texts. In early Buddhist texts like the Nikāyas and Āgamas, śīla primarily refers to moral discipline, encompassing rules for both laypeople and monastics. The paper then analyzes how śīla, originally linked to the ethical conduct of monastics and lay followers alike, gradually evolved into a perfection (pāramitā) in Mahāyāna Buddhism, acquiring a central role in the Bodhisattva’s cultivation of virtues. In this process, the meaning and scope of śīla-pāramitā underwent significant changes. By analyzing these developments, we gain a deeper understanding of the origins of Mahāyāna Buddhism and provides valuable insights into its ethical and doctrinal progression.