Brahmavihara Dhamma

(72) Manner of developing 132 kinds of Karuna

          “May all beings be liberated from misery.”

This is in accordance with the statement in Pali which runs as: ‘Sabbe satta’. Let’s proceed to develop according to the four phrases such as, Sabbe pana, etc. Follow the recitation.

          “May all those beings who breathe be liberated from misery.”
          “May all those beings whose identity is well-known be liberated from misery.”
          “May all individuals be liberated from misery.”
          “May all those beings who have body and individuality be liberated from misery.”

The above are the Five Anodhisa-karuna indicating the manner of developing karuna towards all beings without limitation and distinction. We shall now go on developing the Seven kinds of Odhisa-karuna.

          “May all females be liberated from misery.”
          “May all males be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Ariyas be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Puthujjanas (worldlings) be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Devas be liberated from misery.”
          “May all human beings be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Apaya beings be liberated from misery.”

This is the manner of developing the Seven kinds of Odhisa-karuna. If these Seven Odhisa-karuna is added to Five Anodhisa, it will come to Twelve (12). These are, the dhisa-anodhisa karuna – twelve kinds in number, without distinguishing or limiting region wise. If developed by distinguishing the region, there will be twelve each for every region. As there are ten regions, it will come to a total of 120. We shall now develop by reciting briefly. Please follow:

          “May all beings in the Eastern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all those beings who breathe in the Eastern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all those beings whose identity is well-known in the Eastern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all individuals in the Eastern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all those beings who have body and individuality in the Eastern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all females in the Eastern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all males in the Eastern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Ariyas in the Eastern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Puthujjanas (worldlings) in the Eastern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Devas in the Eastern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all human beings in the Eastern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Apaya beings in the Eastern region be liberated from misery.”

The above indicates the manner of developing karuna in twelve different kinds covering the Eastern region. Similarly, there are twelve (12) kinds each in the Western region and so on. We shall only briefly recite them.

          “May all beings in the Western region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Apaya beings in the Western region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all beings in the Northern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Apaya beings in the Northern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all beings in the Southern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Apaya beings in the Southern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all beings in the South-Eastern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Apaya beings in the South-Eastern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all beings in the North-Western region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Apaya beings in the North-Western region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all beings in the North-Eastern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Apaya beings in the North-Eastern region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all beings in the South-Western region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Apaya beings in the South-Western region be liberated from misery.”
          “May all beings in the Lower region below be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Apaya beings in the Lower region below be liberated from misery.”
          “May all beings in the Higher region above be liberated from misery.”
          “May all Apaya beings in the Higher region above be liberated from misery.”

What has now been recited are 120 kinds of dhisaodhisa karuna. If it is added to 12 kinds of dhisa-anodhisa, it will come to a total of 132 kinds of karuna-. The manner of developing karuna has now been fully described. It is, however, rather important to inculcate a spirit of real compassionate feeling at the time karuna is to be developed. Karuna will only be effective and genuine if there is real compassion by visualising the miserable conditions under which the beings are suffering. In this regard, if one imagines the way Buddha had radiated His Compassion with His faculty of Great Compassion (Mahakaruna), it will become obvious to a certain extent how pitiable are those beings. I will, therefore give an illustration with relevant extracts from Patisambhida-Magga Pali as to how Mahakaruna knowledge has occurred. These are worthy of reverence, and will give you a clear vision of the pitiable state of all beings. Anyhow, only a few extracts will have to be explained for want of time.