Karuna

Karuna means compassion: recognising suffering and wanting to relieve it. It goes beyond feeling sorry for someone because it encourages a helpful response. Listening to someone who is distressed, caring for an injured animal or supporting people who lack basic necessities can all express karuna.

However, karuna, or compassion, requires attention to the suffering of the pregnant person as well as the developing life. Some Buddhists may consider abortion acceptable in exceptional circumstances after weighing the suffering involved and considering alternatives, such as adoption where appropriate. The Middle Way can inform this careful assessment, although most traditional Buddhist approaches remain opposed to deliberately taking life.