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Karuna: Sympathetic Vibrations

Karuṇā

References:

Good Vibrations
The Four Godly Thoughts
Godly Thoughts Expansions
[MN 7]
WP: The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, #7: The Simile of the Cloth, Bhikkhu Nanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi trans., pp120
ATI: The Simile of the Cloth, Thanissaro, trans.


Pāḷi MO Hare Horner Punnaji Bodhi Nanamoli Rhys Davids (Mrs)Rhys Davids Thanissaro Walshe Woodward
karuṇā sympathy, compassion pity compassion empathy compassion compassion pity pity compassion compassion

 

Pāḷi Text Society
Pāḷi English Dictionary
Edited by T. W. Rhys Davids and William Stede
[EDITED ENTRY]

 

Karuṇā: (f.) [cp. Vedic karuṇā nt. (holy) action; Sk. karuṇā...] pity, compassion. Karuṇa is one of the 4 qualities of character significant of a human being who has attained enfranchisement of heart (ceto-vimutti) in the 4 sentiments, viz. mettā k.- upekhā, muditā Freq. found in this formula with -sahagatena cetasā. The first two qualities are complementary...the desire of removing bane and sorrow (from one's fellowmen), whilst mettā is expl. as "hita-sukh-ūpanayakāmatā," the desire of bringing (to one's fellow-men) that which is welfare and good....K- -sahagatena cetasa denotes the exalted state of compassion for all beings (all that is encompassed in the sphere of one's good influence:...(catuddisa "extending over the 4, i. e. all, directions): D I.251; III.78, 50, 224; S IV.296, 322, 351; V.115; A I.183, 196; II.129, 184; III.225; V.300, 345; J II.129...Frequently referred to as an ideal of contemplation (in conn. w. bhavana & jhana)... karuṇāṅ durato katva, without mercy, of the Yamaduta, messengers of Death...; maha- great compassion...; --samapatti a "gest," feat of great compassion: in which Buddha is represented when rising and surveying the world to look for beings to be worthy of his mercy and help D II.237..- 3. As adj. only in cpds. (e. g. -vaca merciful speech; neg. akaruṇā merciless ..; ati- very merciful J IV.142) and as adv. karuṇāṅ pitifully, piteously, mournfully, in k- paridevati J VI.498, 513, 551..
-¢dhimutta intent upon compassion D II.241, 242;
-¢nuvattin following the dictates of mercy...
-guṅaja originating in the quality of compassion...
-jhāna meditation on pity, ecstasy of c. D II.237-39;
-ṭṭhāniya worthy of c....
-bala the power of c....
-brahmavihāra divine state of pity...
-bhāvanā consideration or cultivation of pity Vism 314 sq.
-rasa the sweetness of c....
-vihāra (a heart) in the state of c. Vism 324
-sāgara an ocean of mercy...
-sītala "cool with c." +hadaya, whose heart is tempered with mercy...

 


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