Mahākaruṇa

mahākaruṇa (T. thugs rje chen po). Translated as "great compassion", etc. This term refers to the great compassion of the buddhas, who is always thinking of the welfare and happiness of sentient beans. In this context it is one of the twenty-one sets of undefiled qualities. It is also an epithet for Avalokitesvara.

The Treasury of Precious Qualities states:

Great compassion for all that lives (skye la thugs rje chen po). With immense compassion, Buddhas consider all beings at all times and in all situations. They know who is progressing on the path, who is declining, who is being led from the sorrows of the lower realms and set upon the blissful path of liberation and the higher realms. They know those whom they can free from the fetters of the afflictions.

The Khenjuk states:

The twentieth category is great compassion. With his great compassion, which accomplishes the welfare and happiness of all the infinite sentient beings, he always considers them and protects them such as six times throughout day and night.

The Perfection of Wisdom in Eighteen Thousand Lines (Aṣṭasāhasrikā prajñāpāramitā) states:

What is the tathāgatas’ great compassion? Based on the conventional term for the world, that compassion of the tathāgatas, endowed with which they think about the world at all times (three times in the day and three times at night) in order to find out about the wholesome roots‍—that compassion of the lord buddhas that is always operating, watching to bring limitless beings to maturity, is called great compassion.

Sources

• Jigme Lingpa; Kangyur Rinpoche (2010), Treasury of Precious Qualities, Book One, translated by Padmakara Translation Group, Boston: Shambhala Publications 
• Mipham Rinpoche (2002), Gateway to Knowledge, vol. III, translated by Kunsang, Erik Pema, Rangjung Yeshe Publications