“In contrast to the aggressive, destructive quality of hatred,” U Pandita writes, “metta wishes the welfare and happiness of others.” “Engaged Buddhism is active compassion or active metta,” Suu Kyi says. “It means not just sitting there passively saying, ‘I feel sorry for them.’ It means doing something about the situation by bringing whatever relief you can to those who need it most, by caring for them, by doing what you can to help others.” A closely related concept is karunna, or “active compassion.” Together, these concepts allow one not to hate one’s oppressors but instead to feel
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