Defining Metta (loving kindness) and Compassion

sova

Hello friends!

How would you describe (and perhaps differentiate between) Loving Kindness and Compassion?

DhammaDhatu

hello sova

for me, metta is friendliness, respectfulness, unconditional love

where as compassion is the wish/intention to prevent & alleviate harm & suffering

metta is when your doctor smiles at you, welcomes you & makes you feel at ease

where as compassion is when your doctor gives you some medicine for your sickness

regards

zenff

I’d say the four immeasurables are all mental states:
The four immeasurables are:

1. Loving-kindness (Pāli: metta, Sanskrit: maitri) towards all: the hope that a person will be well; "the wish that all sentient beings, without any exception, be happy."[11]

2. Compassion (Pāli and Sanskrit: karuṇā): the hope that a person's sufferings will diminish; "the wish for all sentient beings to be free from suffering."[11]

3. Empathetic Joy (Pāli and Sanskrit: mudita): joy in the accomplishments of a person — oneself or another; sympathetic joy; "the wholesome attitude of rejoicing in the happiness and virtues of all sentient beings."[11]

4. Equanimity (Pāli: upekkhā, Sanskrit: upekṣā): learning to accept loss and gain, praise and blame, and success and failure, all with detachment, equally, for oneself and for others. Equanimity is "not to distinguish between friend, enemy or stranger, but regard every sentient being as equal. It is a clear-minded tranquil state of mind - not being overpowered by delusions, mental dullness or agitation."[12]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmavihara#Etymology_.26_translations


Our actions – when they are in line with these mental states – would be virtue or in Pali : Sila.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Śīla

But I don’t think it would be in line with any of these to get into a fight over the exact meaning of the words.