Metta and karuna
Also called: Metta, Karuna · Topic: Buddhism, Jainism and Heterodox Traditions · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings"
Meaning
Mettā and karuṇā are two key Buddhist values. Mettā means fellow feeling, a warm goodwill towards all beings. Karuṇā means compassion, a wish to ease the suffering of others, especially the young and the weak. Buddhism also judged people by their conduct, not by their birth. Together, these ideas drew many men and women to Buddhism during the Buddha's lifetime (c. sixth century BCE) and after it.
Example
The Buddha's advice to the householder Sigāla, recorded in the Sutta Pitaka, shows mettā and karuṇā in daily life. A master should give servants work that suits their strength, pay them food and wages, care for them when they are sick, share treats with them and give them leave.
Don't confuse with
- Ahimsa: ahimsa means not harming any living being, and it is shared by Buddhism and Jainism. Mettā and karuṇā go further: they ask for active kindness and compassion, not just avoiding harm.
Related concepts
- Four Noble Truths
- Dukkha
- Anicca
- Anatta
- Pratityasamutpada
- Middle path
- Eightfold Path
- Nibbana
- Sarnath
- Buddha's teachings to laity