Sanskrit
Karuna
/KUH-roo-nah/
Karuna is a profound, active compassion that transcends mere sympathy, urging individuals to alleviate the suffering of all sentient beings. It's a deep-seated motivation rooted in the recognition of universal vulnerability and interconnectedness, fostering a selfless engagement with the world. This concept inspires not just feelings of kindness but concrete actions aimed at reducing pain and promoting well-being, acknowledging suffering as a shared experience. It embodies a compassionate response that is both empathetic and altruistic, guiding ethical conduct in many spiritual traditions.
Lit. compassion, mercy, kindness
Karuna is often invoked in spiritual contexts, particularly within Buddhist and Hindu philosophies, to describe the ideal compassionate response to suffering. It is a guiding principle for ethical conduct and a motivation for altruistic actions.