maitri means benevolence, lovingkindness or compassion, especially if developed through meditation or mindfulness. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 98 out of 100.
Why “maitri” is a great word
MAITRI — [Noun] A cultivated state of universal benevolence and loving-kindness, an active wish for the well-being of all sentient beings. From Sanskrit मैत्री (maitrī, "friendship, benevolence, loving-kindness"). Unlike karuṇā, which specifically denotes compassion for those who are suffering, or pity, which implies sorrow from a position of perceived superiority, maitri is an egalitarian, unconditional friendliness. It is the deliberate softening of the heart towards a stranger on a crowded train, the silent offering of goodwill to an old adversary, and the steady inward repetition of a phrase like “may you be safe”—a gentle but radical insistence on connection in a world wired for indifference.
noun
- Benevolence, lovingkindness or compassion, especially if developed through meditation or mindfulness.