This research aimed to (1) study parami (perfection) in Theravada Buddhism, (2) study parami (perfection) in Mahâyâna Buddhism, and (๓) compare Bodhisattva’s parami (perfection) in Theravâda and Mahâyâna Buddhism.

                  It was found as follows : Parami (perfection) in Theravâda Buddhism, was considered to be the target of Dhamma practice, and the way of achieving the highest target, that is, Buddhist saint. There are four observations about parami in Theravada Buddhism. First, performing ten meritorious acts. Second, the order of parami consists of three steps: parami (perfections), upaparami (superior perfecctions), and paramatthaparami (supreme perfections). Third, the period of performing meritorious acts would start from the previous Buddha’s prediction. Last, the full perfections of Buddha are higher than that of private Buddha. The full perfections of Paccekabuddha (Private Buddha) are higher than that of Sotapanna (stream enterer).

               Parami in Mahâyâna Buddhism aims at enlightenment wishing all living creatures happiness or wishing to help them free from permanent suffers, that is, birth, old, and death correctly. However, Bodhisattva has to develop himself to the highest level before helping the others. It is like those who want to help the others from the mud have to help themselves first from the mud. Bodhisattva performs meritorious acts wishing to achieve the enlightenment, so he has determination to complete his perfections (parami). It can be claimed that performing the meritorious act and wishing to achieve it support each other to the target. Thus, Bodhisattva’s performing is to achieve the enlightenment and lift all living creatures from cycle of birth and death.

                  In Theravâda Buddhism, the Bodhisattva means a person who performs meritorious acts to become the Buddha in the future. However, according to the Mahâyâna Buddhism, all Buddhists should wish to become Bodhisattva. Moreover, the Bodhisattva who is ready to achieve the enlightenment may not want to achieve it. He prefers to remove all living creatures from the cycle of life.

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