Buddhism karuna and metta Flashcards
What is karuna?
- Reflects back to when the Buddha had become enlightened and then shared the teaching of how to become enlightened
What is the idea of karuna?
- To share the knowledge of how to overcome suffering and help people out of ignorance
-Buddhist must be compassionate to all those
-Wisdom and compassion go hand in hand; the more you understand reality, the more compassionate you will feel - A person cannot truly be happy while there are others in the world that are still suffering
Karuna quote:
“It is my belief for the world in general, that compassion is more important than religion”
-Tenzin Gyatso- Tibetan Buddhism leader
What is Metta
- Universal love for all beings; not just humans
- Buddhists acknowledge that a life-state of anger or hatred have negative impacts on others and ourselves
-Love, care, warmth have a positive impact on others
Loving Kindness meditation
Form of meditation to help develop an attitude of metta
5 steps:
-Loving kindness towards yourself
- A good friend
- A neutral person
- A difficult person
-All for plus the whole world
Metta quote
“May I be happy, may I be well, May I be safe, May I be peaceful”
“Do not do any evil, cultivate good. Purify your mind”
“cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings.”
4 sublime states
- Love
- Compassion
- Sympathetic joy
- Equanimity (balance, stability and calmness)
Difference between karuna and metta
Metta: general desire to want everyone to be happy
Karuna: arises when metta comes into contact with a specific person who is suffering.
5 moral precepts:
5 commitments that Buddhists undertake:
1. Abstain from taking life
2. Abstain from taking what is not freely given
3. Abstain from misuse of senses or sexual misconduct
4. Abstain from wrong speech
5. Abstain from intoxicants that cloud the mind
