KARUṆĀ AS DHARMA LEGACY: BUDDHIST COMPASSION IN CONTEMPORARY MORAL CONSCIOUSNESS

Abstract

This article looks into the Buddhist concept of compassion (karunā) as an essential teaching of Dharma and its impact on shaping contemporary moral consciousness. Connected to the Buddhist ethical teachings of brahmavihāra, compassion serves as the foundation of fostering empathy and alleviating suffering from human life. The study investigates the philosophical foundations of Buddhist compassion, then contextualises it in brahmavihāra and traces its alliance with three planes of existence, abstinences and illimitable, and lastly looks into its influence on contemporary moral consciousness, addressing suffering and the role of compassion in cultivating resilience through its different modes of application. Through a qualitative-philosophical approach, the work analyses the transformative principle of compassion to bridge personal, social, and ecological well-being. Finally, it explores how the legacy of Buddhist compassion motivates universal moral awakening, emphasising peace, non-violence, and moral responsibility through a brief analysis of the evolution of compassion from its foundational principles to contemporary practices including the contributions of influential Buddhist figures.