Sutra on the Bodhisattva's Inner Practice of the Six Perfections

Translated by Yan Fotiao, a Shramana from Linhuai, Later Han Dynasty

The Buddha said: "Those who wish to study the Bodhisattva path should begin with these six practices: First, counting the breath; second, following the breath; third, calming the mind; fourth, contemplating deeply; fifth, returning to the source; and sixth, attaining purity."

The Buddha said: "The first practice is Counting, which is the Dana Paramita (Perfection of Giving). Through counting the breath, the mind ascends to heavenly states. This is giving oneself—the act of offering the mind within your own body. Through this practice, one can attain the stages of Stream-Entry, Once-Return, Non-Return, Arhatship, Pratyekabuddhahood, and ultimately Buddhahood. This is the inner Dana Paramita—the giving that leads to liberation."

The Buddha said: "The second paramita is the paramita of moral discipline. When the mind and heart follow each other, entering and exiting together without wandering thoughts or turning toward wrong intentions, you do not violate the precepts of the path. This is the inner paramita of moral discipline—by not violating the path's precepts, you attain liberation."