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

The concept of & sacute;& imacr;la-p & amacr;ramit & amacr; (Pali. s & imacr;lap & amacr;ram & imacr;), "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 & sacute;& imacr;la-p & amacr;ramit & amacr; by tracing its roots from early Buddhist scriptures to its later articulations in the Cariy & amacr;pitaka and early Mah & amacr;y & amacr;na texts. In early Buddhist texts like the Nik & amacr;yas and & Amacr;gamas, & sacute;& imacr;la primarily refers to moral discipline, encompassing rules for both laypeople and monastics. The paper then analyzes how & sacute;& imacr;la, originally linked to the ethical conduct of monastics and lay followers alike, gradually evolved into a perfection (p & amacr;ramit & amacr;) in Mah & amacr;y & amacr;na Buddhism, acquiring a central role in the Bodhisattva's cultivation of virtues. In this process, the meaning and scope of & sacute;& imacr;la-p & amacr;ramit & amacr; underwent significant changes. By analyzing these developments, we gain a deeper understanding of the origins of Mah & amacr;y & amacr;na Buddhism and provides valuable insights into its ethical and doctrinal progression.