By some accounts the Six Paramitas came about as a Mahayana response to an overemphasis on development of self by only adhering to the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path, which are primarily focused on self.

Of the Six Paramitas – Giving – Dana; Discipline – Five Precepts; Patience; Effort; Meditation; and Wisdom – effort is viewed slightly different than Effort as one of the Eight-Fold Path. Here, Effort is our effort on behalf of others and our effort in our practice. Effort is also sometimes translated as Striving.

What kind of effort should we make is of course a legitimate question, and the answer can simply be stated as effort to bring good and prevent harm. Effort is also the activity of doing the entire Six Paramitas, as it takes both physical and mental effort to live up to and follow these six guidelines.