|
|
|
|
Karuna
|
| |
|
| |
Karua (Sanskrit; Pali) is generally translated as "compassion" or "pity". It is part of the spiritual path of both Buddhism and Jainism.
a is important in all schools of Buddhism. For Theravada Buddhists, dwelling in karua is a means for attaining a happy present life and heavenly rebirth. For Mahayana Buddhists, karua is a co-requisite for becoming a bodhisattva.
heravada Buddhism, karua is one of the four "divine abodes" (brahmavihara), along with lovingkindness (Pali: metta), sympathetic joy (mudita) and equanimity (upekkha).

Discussion
Ask a question about 'Karuna'
Start a new discussion about 'Karuna'
Answer questions from other users
|
Encyclopedia
Karua (Sanskrit; Pali) is generally translated as "compassion" or "pity". It is part of the spiritual path of both Buddhism and Jainism.
Buddhism
Karua is important in all schools of Buddhism. For Theravada Buddhists, dwelling in karua is a means for attaining a happy present life and heavenly rebirth. For Mahayana Buddhists, karua is a co-requisite for becoming a bodhisattva.
Theravada Buddhism
In Theravada Buddhism, karua is one of the four "divine abodes" (brahmavihara), along with lovingkindness (Pali: metta), sympathetic joy (mudita) and equanimity (upekkha). In the Pali canon, the Buddha recommends cultivating these four virtuous mental states to both householders and monastics. When one develops these four states, the Buddha counsels radiating them in all directions, as in the following stock canonical phrase regarding karua:
Such a practice purifies one's mind, avoids evil-induced consequences, leads to happiness in one's present life and, if there is a future karmic rebirth, rebirth in a heavenly realm.
The Pali commentaries distinguish between karua and metta in the following complementary manner: Karuna is the desire to remove harm and suffering (ahita-dukkha-apanaya-kamata) from others; while metta is the desire to bring about the well-being and happiness (hita-sukha-upanaya-kamata) of others.
Mahayana Buddhism
In Mahayana Buddhism, karua is one of the two qualities, along with enlightened wisdom (Sanskrit: prajña), to be cultivated on the bodhisattva path. According to scholar Rupert Gethin, this elevation of karua to the status of prajña is one of the distinguishing factors between the Theravada arahant ideal and the Mahayana bodhisattva ideal:
Throughout the Mahayana world, Avalokitesvara (Sanskrit; Chinese: Guan Yin; Japanese: Kanzeon; Tibetan: Chenrezig) is a bodhisattva who embodies karua.
Jainism
Karua is associated with the Jain practice of compassion. For instance, karua is one of the four reflections of universal friendship — along with amity (Sanskrit: maitri), appreciation (pramoda) and equanimity (madhyastha)—used to stop (samvara) the influx of karma.
See also
Sources
- Buddha Dharma Education Association & BuddhaNet (n.d.). Buddhist Studies for Secondary Students, Unit 6: The Four Immeasurables. Retrieved from "BuddhaNet" at http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/bs-s15.htm.
- Gethin, Rupert (1998). The Foundations of Buddhism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Monier-Williams, Monier (1899, 1964). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-864308-X. Retrieved 2008-05-09 from "Cologne University" at http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/MWScan/index.php?sfx=pdf.
- Rhys Davids, T.W. & William Stede (eds.) (1921-5). The Pali Text Society’s Pali–English Dictionary. Chipstead: Pali Text Society. Retrieved 2008-05-09 from "U. Chicago" at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/pali/.
- Shah, Pravin K. (n.d.). Nine Tattvas (Principles). Retrieved from "Harvard U." at http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/jainedu/9tattva.htm.
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1994). Kalama Sutta: To the Kalamas (AN 3.65). Retrieved 2008-05-10 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.065.than.html.
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (2006). Metta Sutta: Good Will (1) (AN 4.125). Retrieved 2008-05-10 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.125.than.html.
External links
|
| |
|
|