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What are the six perfections practiced by a Mahayana bodhisattva?

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Mahayana Guanyin and attendant bodhisattvas, detail of a painted cave mural, Kansu province, China, early 8th century.

In Mahayana Buddhism, a bodhisattva practices six transcendental virtues, known as pāramitās, to progress toward enlightenment and fulfill the vow to assist all beings.12

The six perfections are:

Generosity (dāna-pāramitā): The practice of giving and self-sacrifice.12
Morality (śīla-pāramitā): The cultivation of ethical conduct.12
Perseverance (kṣānti-pāramitā): Also referred to as patience, this involves endurance and steadfastness.12
Vigour (vīrya-pāramitā): The application of energy and effort toward the path.12
Meditation (dhyāna-pāramitā): The practice of concentration and mental discipline.12
Wisdom (prajñā-pāramitā): The development of deep insight and understanding.12

While these six are the primary virtues practiced during the preliminary stages of the bodhisattva path, some traditions expand the list to ten by including additional practices such as skill in means, profound resolution, the ten powers, and transcendent knowledge.12