About Prajna Karuna

Prajñā (Sanskrit: प्रज्ञा) is often translated as “wisdom” or “deep insight.” In the Buddhist context, it refers not merely to intellectual knowledge but to a direct, experiential understanding of reality as it truly is—free from delusion and distortion. Prajñā is the ability to see the emptiness (śūnyatā) of all phenomena, recognizing that nothing exists independently or permanently. This is the clarity that cuts through ignorance, enabling liberation.

Karuṇā (Sanskrit: करुणा) is the quality of compassion—an active wish to alleviate the suffering of all beings, grounded in empathy and understanding. In Mahayana Buddhism, karuṇā is not mere sentimentality; it is compassion informed by wisdom, ensuring that actions are skillful and truly beneficial.

When prajñā and karuṇā are fully merged, they give rise to prajñāpāramitā—the “Perfection of Wisdom.” This union is the heart of Mahayana Buddhist practice: wisdom without compassion is empty knowledge, while compassion without wisdom is sentimentality. Together, they form the complete path of the bodhisattva.

Hello, my name is Mike. This site is a dedicated space to collect my thoughts, reflections, and references on Buddhism, with a special focus on early Mahayana Buddhism, Chinese Ch’an and Japanese Zen. I’m not however, associated with any specific school, lineage, or teacher.  My approach is independent but rooted in respect for the great texts and teachers of the past. 

As Santideva said, "I write only to perfume my own mind ... Thus, perhaps it may assist someone whose heart sees the world in the same way".

Sutras:

• Perfection of Wisdom in 8,000 Lines (Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra), including the shorter Diamond Sutra (Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra) and Heart Sutra (Prajñāpāramitāhṛdaya).
• Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra
• Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra

Shastras and Treatises:

• Śāntideva’s Bodhicaryāvatāra
• Nāgārjuna’s works on the Middle Way (Mādhyamaka)
• Bodhidharma’s teachings
• Huang-Po’s teachings

all content on this site is reverently made for universal free distribution by mike willis