The feeling
The rasa of compassion and grief; the notion of feeling something on behalf of someone else.
The old word for it
Karuṇa
What it means
The ancient meaning
Karuṇa is often described through tragedy on stage, but its root is compassion, not sadness alone. The capacity to feel WITH another person, not just for them.
The modern feeling
It can be as simple crying at a stranger's story, or having the specific weight of watching someone you love carry something hard and having no way to carry it for them.
Have you ever felt someone else's emotions settle into your own chest, even though it wasn't yours to carry?