Cattāri Brahmavihārā

According to Thanissaro Bhikkhu, “No obstacles, no n perfections” is a Thai saying that serves to remind us that it is impossible to develop spiritually in the absence of trying circumstances. Perhaps this is why a Buddha is always born in the human realm according to the Theravada.

Turning to the perfections, or parami as they are called in Pāli, they are a list (of commentarial provenance I believe) of 10 qualities that must be perfected over the course of millions of lives to become a Buddha. More generally, these qualities are seen as necessary to progress along the path of practice, even if the aim is not quite as grand.

For myself, the framework of the paramis has been important for my practice for decades. So, what are they?

Here is an excerpt from Bhikkhu Samahita’s old site:

There are 10 Perfect Qualities!

Contemplation of the Ten Perfecting Qualities (Dasa Parami):

1: May I be generous and always helpfully giving service (Dāna parami).
2: May I be morally pure, virtuous and well-disciplined (Sīla parami).
3: May I be modest and withdrawing into simple living (Nekkhamma parami).
4: May I be wise by understanding what should be known (Paññā parami).
5: May I be enthusiastic, energetic, & never giving up the good (Viriya parami).
6: May I be patient, tolerant, and forgive other’s wrongs (Khanti parami).
7: May I be honest, trustworthy, scrupulous, and truthful (Sacca parami).
8: May I be firm, resolute, determined, and immovable (Adhitthāna parami).
9: May I be kind, gentle, compassionate and friendly (Mettā parami).
10: May I be calm, balanced, serene and imperturbable (Upekkhā parami).
May I train to be mentally perfect. May I be perfect to keep training!

More on these 10 Mental Perfections (Dasa Parami): 
The_Ten_Perfections, The 10 Mental Perfections