Good man, the Bodhisattva, Mahāsattva, takes prajñā-pāramitā [the perfection of wisdom] as his mother, clever expedients as his father, dāna-pāramitā [the perfection of giving] as his wet-nurse, śīlapāramitā [the perfection of morality] as his foster mother, the pāramitā of patience as his adornments, the pāramitā of vigor as his nourishment, and dhyāna-pāramitā [the perfection of meditational concentration] as the one who cleanses him. (EDR VIII 132)

The Buddha knows the hearts of living beings,
And each of their different natures.
According with what they ought to receive,
In that way he speaks the Dharma.
For those who are stingy, he lauds giving.
For those who break the prohibitions, he praises the precepts.
For those with much anger, he praises patience.
For the lazy, he lauds vigor.
For those with scattered minds, he praises dhyāna-concentration.
For the ignorant, he praises wisdom. (FAS Ch10 ms.)

Giving
The Buddha said:

Wishing to perfect the six pāramitās, I diligently practiced giving, my mind not begrudging elephants, horses, the seven precious things, countries, cities, wives, children, slaves, servants, even my head, eyes, marrow, brains, body, flesh, hands, and feet— not sparing even life itself. (DFS X 4)

There are three major categories of giving: a) the giving of wealth, b) the giving of Dharma, and c) the giving of fearlessness.

There is giving of both “inner and outer wealth. Outer wealth includes one’s country, wife, and children. The sutras abound with stories of people giving up their wives and children. A few years ago, a laywoman also resolved to give up her husband, but nobody wanted him! From this you can see that a husband is not that easy to give away. Inner wealth refers to one’s own head, brain, eyes, marrow— parts of one’s own body.” (EDR V 212)

“What is meant by the giving of Dharma? It is to speak the Dharma to benefit living beings, to teach and transform all living beings by explaining the Buddhadharma for them.” (DFS II 132)

Good man, amongst all offerings, the Offering of Dharma is most supreme. This is the offering of cultivating according to the teachings, the offering of benefiting living beings, the offering of gathering in living beings, the offering of standing in for living beings who are undergoing suffering, the offering of diligently cultivating good roots, the offering of not renouncing the karma of the Bodhisattva and the offering of never forsaking the Bodhi mind. (UW 59)

Moral Precepts
“The precepts are guides to perfect conduct and eliminate offenses, transgressions, and evil deeds.” (AS 4)

“The Perfection of Morality means guarding against offenses in seven departments. The seven divisions are: three of the body and four of the mouth—killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct with the body, and loose speech, lying, harsh speech, and backbiting with the mouth.…” (DFS X 5)

Patience
The Bodhisattva Maitreya, who will be the next to become a Buddha, excels in patience.

Vigor
“There are two types of vigor: physical and mental.” (DFS II 135)
“Vigor transforms those who are lazy.” (AS 4)
“This means that you finish everything that you start. If you start things with great excitement, but then get tired and quit, you do not have vigor. Completing the job indicates vigor.” (DFS X 5)

Meditational Concentration
“Dhyāna meditation transforms those who are scattered and confused.” (AS 4)
Meditational concentration includes the four dhyānas and the Four Stations of Emptiness.

Wisdom
For more information on the prajñāpāramitā, prajñā, emptiness.

In some sutras a list of ten pāramitās is also found. The first six are the same as listed above. They are followed by the pāramitās of expedient means, vows, powers, and knowledge.

Giving
“Giving transforms those who are stingy. Greedy people who can’t give should practice giving, for if they do not learn to give, they will never get rid of their stinginess.” (AS 4)

The first pāramitā is giving to those in need. “If someone encounters a frightening experience and you comfort them and deliver them from distress and terror, you have made a gift of fearlessness.” (EDR V 215)

Patience
Patience is a priceless gem,
Which few know how to mine;
But if you can master it,
Everything works out fine. (DFS II 135)

“Patience transforms those who are hateful. If you have an unreasonable temper, cultivate being patient and bearing with things. Don’t be an asura, a fighter who gets angry all day and is not on speaking terms with anyone unless it’s to speak while glaring with fierce, angry eyes. Be patient instead.” (AS 4)

“Patience means to bear insult. It means to take what you can’t take. For example, if someone hits you or scolds and you don’t retaliate in any way, you are being patient. If someone hits you and you kick them right back, you can’t call that patience; but if someone hits you on the face and you turn the other cheek, you are practicing patience." (DFS X 5)

Wisdom
“Prajñā-wisdom transforms those who are deluded; the bright light of wisdom disperses the darkness of delusion.” (AS 4)

“With this perfection, one no longer contends or fights. People fight because they lack genuine wisdom, genuine prajñā. If one has true wisdom, one won’t fight or struggle.” (DFS X 6)

六波羅蜜/六度