Karuna

Categories: Jain philosophical concepts | Buddhist terms | Buddhism

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

This article is about the concept of spiritual compassion. Karuna, Finland was a municipality of Finland till it merged into municipality of Sauvo.

For the army colonel see Colonel Karuna.

Karuna (originally a Pali word; also regarded as a Sanskrit word) is the Jainist concept of love. In Tibetan, it is "snying-rje". It is also translated as "compassion," a key concept of Mahayana Buddhism (see Bodhisattva and Avalokitesvara). As mercy, it is the special kindness shown to those who suffer. It is considered the indispensable complement to enlightened wisdom or Prajña. Compassion is important in all schools of Buddhism.

Karuna is commonly summed up as wisdom tempered with compassion.

See also

• Brahma-viharas
• Ahimsa
• Karuna Foundation

External links

• The Bodhisattva Ideal - Buddhism and the Aesthetics of Selflessness
• Dharma Dictionary - RangjungYesheWiki - Snying Rje / Karuna
• Caring For the Poorest children in Cambodia: Karuna Foundation - by Cathy and Phil Kiely

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