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Glite Dictionary
karuna

karuna

9.9
A feeling of deep kindness that makes you want to help people who suffer, especially in Buddhism
  • noun
  • /kəˈruːnə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : karuna
  • She showed great karuna by volunteering at the shelter and helping those in need.

Examples

  • In Buddhism, karuna is fundamental because it teaches us to feel empathy for those who are suffering.

  • I want to see all our interconnectedness as expressions of the agape, the karuna, the hesed, the jen of the Absolute.

    Academic text (1990)

  • Also, many scholars suspect that the Mahayana interpretation of karuna, which leads to their idea of human rights, may have been influenced by Christianity; the Mahayana sutras were composed in a highly Hellenized part of India in the early Byzantine era.

    Blog text (24)

  • The monk spoke of karuna as essential for achieving a deeper understanding of others' pain.

Synonyms

compassion
vskaruna
423 2.7

A strong feeling of care for someone who is suffering and a wish to help them

is a named central religious principle specific to Buddhist teachings
rahma
vskaruna
9.9

A feeling of kindness and care for other people

is central to a particular religious tradition rather than a general moral value
misericordia
vskaruna
  • Archaic
9.9

Kindness shown to people who are suffering

is a core teaching in one religion focusing on empathy for suffering

How Compassionate

benevolence
16 6.1
mercy
609 1.3
karuna
  • Specialized
9.9
sympathy
273 1.8
indifference
71 4.6
cruelty
  • NSFW
129 3.2

Surface Forms

karuna singular
karunas plural

Etymology

Karuna comes from Sanskrit and Pali and means 'compassion' or 'mercy'. In Buddhist teaching it is the wish to 'ease' another person's pain, so karuna is both a feeling and a caring action to help people who suffer.