Mercy and Undivided Great Compassion

Comparing the Bible's mercy and Buddhism's undivided great compassion (同體大悲). Exploring the response to others' suffering and the practice of compassion as taught by both traditions.

Responding to the Suffering of Others

Bible

Ἰδὼν δὲ τοὺς ὄχλους ἐσπλαγχνίσθη περὶ αὐτῶν, ὅτι ἦσαν ἐσκυλμένοι καὶ ἐρριμμένοι ὡσεὶ πρόβατα μὴ ἔχοντα ποιμένα

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Sutra

以一切衆生病，是故我病。若一切衆生病滅，則我病滅

“Because all sentient beings are sick, therefore I am sick. If the sickness of all sentient beings is extinguished, then my sickness will be extinguished.”

Comparison

Jesus' 'compassion' and Vimalakirti's 'undivided great compassion' are both a deep empathy that takes on another's pain as one's own. Jesus felt the suffering of the shepherd-less crowds so deeply it twisted his very gut, and Vimalakirti confesses that the sickness of sentient beings is his own sickness. Both traditions teach that true compassion is not the sympathy of standing at a distance but the courage to enter into suffering.

The Practice of Compassion

Bible

Σαμαρίτης δέ τις ὁδεύων ἦλθεν κατ' αὐτὸν καὶ ἰδὼν ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, καὶ προσελθὼν κατέδησεν τὰ τραύματα αὐτοῦ ἐπιχέων ἔλαιον καὶ οἶνον

“But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.”

Sutra

應以何身得度者，即現何身而爲說法

“To whomever should be saved by whatever body, one immediately manifests that body and teaches the Dharma.”

Comparison

The Good Samaritan and Guanyin Bodhisattva both practice compassion not as a concept but as concrete action. The Samaritan crossed ethnic prejudice to directly approach and care for the wounded man, while Guanyin even changes form to appear according to the needs of sentient beings. Both stories teach that true compassion means setting aside one's own convenience to respond to another's need.

Boundless Mercy

Bible

Ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν καὶ προσεύχεσθε ὑπὲρ τῶν διωκόντων ὑμᾶς, ὅπως γένησθε υἱοὶ τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Sutra

願一切衆生得樂，願一切衆生離苦，願一切衆生不失所得安樂，願一切衆生不怨不憎不惱平等心

“May all sentient beings find happiness. May all sentient beings be free from suffering. May all sentient beings not lose the happiness they have found. May all sentient beings be free from enmity, hatred, and affliction, and dwell in equanimity.”

Comparison

Jesus' commandment to love one's enemies and Buddhism's Four Immeasurable Minds (四無量心) completely demolish the boundaries of compassion. Jesus commands love even for those who persecute us, and the Buddha teaches sending undiscriminating compassion toward all sentient beings. Both traditions uniformly declare that love directed only toward 'our side' is not true compassion, and that genuine mercy must transcend the distinction between enemy and ally.