What is Karuna - besides the name of a new island?
In Pali, an early Indo-Aryan language of India, Karuṇā embodies the desire to remove harm and suffering, and is paired with mettā, the desire to bring about the well-being and happiness of others.
We have concrete objectives for this new island, Karuna, which are similar to those of Healthinfo Island: We intend to support health information needs through top-quality resources, workshops, and classes.
But Karuna, as a new island in Second Life, is envisioned as more than a set of objectives. In this work, we reach beyond information to its truest purpose, which we find to be our human discourse. Here, stories will be shared through music, poetry, and other narratives.Here, we are reminded of the joy of community, and will be seeking ways to find karuna on this land and in our lives.
We will teach, working to ensure that the best, most recent, evidence-based information is available - and helping others learn to evaluate information for themselves - but will remember that the best teaching is expressed as teaching/learning, a continuum, a process of growth.
We’ll work with other organizations, but will do our best to ensure that the idea of community is foremost: Individuals are at the heart of Karuna, and it is through sharing tales and helping each other that we find our best selves.
