Love (Mettā/Maitrī) and compassion (Karuna) are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive. – The 14th Dalai Lama

Karuṇā is important in all schools of Buddhism. For Theravāda Buddhists, dwelling in karuṇā is a means for attaining a happy present life and heavenly rebirth. For Mahāyāna Buddhists, karuṇā is a co-requisite for becoming a Bodhisattva.

In Theravāda Buddhism, karuṇā is one of the four "divine abodes" (brahmavihāra), along with loving kindness (Pāli: mettā), sympathetic joy (mudita) and equanimity (upekkha).[2]

In the Pali canon, the Buddha recommends cultivating these four virtuous mental states to both householders and monastics.[3]

When one develops these four states, the Buddha counsels radiating them in all directions, as in the following stock canonical phrase regarding karuṇā: He keeps pervading the first direction—as well as the second direction, the third, and the fourth—with an awareness imbued with compassion. Thus he keeps pervading above, below, & all around, everywhere & in every respect the all-encompassing cosmos with an awareness imbued with compassion: abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will.[4]

Such a practice purifies one's mind, avoids evil-induced consequences, leads to happiness in one's present life and, if there is a future karmic rebirth, it will be in a heavenly realm.

The virtue of Charity is embedded Chaturvidha Dana i.e. four folds of charity. Among the four types Abhay Dana (saving life) is considered as the highest Dana (charity ) and is based on principle of “Live and Let Live”.

There are other main types of Dana (charity) mentioned are
- Ahara Dana (giving of food),
- Aushadhi Dana (giving of medicine),
- Shastra Dana (giving of wisdom, imparting knowledge including giving of books)

ਘਾਲਿਖਾਇਕਿਛੁਹਥਹੁਦੇਇ॥ਨਾਨਕਰਾਹੁਪਛਾਣਹਿਸੇਇ॥੧॥{ਪੰਨਾ1245}

(One who works for what he eats, and gives some of what he has - O Nanak, he knows the Path.: Guru Granth Sahib)

The term Dasvand (ਦਸਵੰਧ) literally means "a tenth part" or the “tithe” and refers the act of donating 10% of one's produce/ harvest, both financial and in the form of time and service such as service (SEVA) to the Gurdwara and anywhere else. It falls into Guru Nanak Dev's concept of VandChhako (ਵੰਡਛਕੋ). This was done during the time of Guru Arjan Dev and many Sikhs still do it as on today.

The concept of Dasvandh was implicit in Guru Nanak's own line mentioned above. As the excavation of the sacred tank at Amritsar, and the erection of the central shrine, Harimander, began under Guru Ram Das resulting in a large amount of expenditure, the Sikhs were encouraged to set aside a minimum of ten per cent (Dasvandh) of their income for the common cause and the concept of Guru Ki Golak "Guru's treasury" was coined.

An earlier Jewish source- Midrash proclaims regarding charity that “More than the benefactor benefits the pauper, the pauper benefits the benefactor.”

Tzedakah (: צדקה) is a Hebrew word meaning "justice" or "righteousness," but commonly signifies charity. Modern day charity is understood as a spontaneous gesture of goodwill and a symbol of generosity; Tzedakah is an religious obligation.

There are Eight types of Giving, as written in the Mishneh Torah, “Laws about Giving to Poor People", Chapter 10:7–14:

- Giving an interest-free loan to a person in need; forming partnership with person in need; giving a grant to person in need; finding a job for a person in need, so long as that loan, grant, partnership, or job results in the person no longer living by relying upon others.

- Giving tzedakah secretly to an unknown recipient via person or public fund that is reliable, prudent, and can perform acts of tzedakah with your money in a most impeccable fashion.

- Giving tzedakah secretly to a known recipient.
- Giving tzedakah publicly to an unknown recipient.
- Giving tzedakah before being sought.
- Giving adequately after being secretly.
- Giving willingly, but inadequately.
- Giving "in sadness" (giving out of pity) Majority of traditional Jews practice ma'sarkesafim i.e. giving of 10% or tithe of their income to support those in need as Tzedakah.

Charity in Christianity is not just almsgiving, and should not be seen only as an obligation or duty. Charity is considered as one of the seven heavenly virtues considered by modern scholars as “God is love", (God is charity): 1 John 4:8. Charity is not optional but obligatory part of faith in Christianity. On various occasions (Gospel of Matthew) Jesus identifies himself with destitute and guides to love the neighbours. In response to the question from a lawyer, "And who is my neighbour? Jesus in story of Good Samaritans (Gospel of Luke) as telling the parable guides that neighbourhood may be anyone on the other side of the world, who is/are not ‘one of us’ but different from us, though not a immediate neighbour.

Few of the major verses in Bible regarding charity and its importance are as given below:

- And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16
- One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. Proverbs 11:24
- A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

Like Judaism and Christianity, Charity is considered as Obligatory on every Muslim. Concept of Charity in Islam is called Zakat (Zakah). As one of the Five Pillars of Islam, Zakat is a religious duty for all Muslims who meet the necessary criteria of wealth.It is a mandatory charitable contribution, often considered to be a tax. By Quranic rankings Zakah is next to Prayers in importance.

The major religious verses and hadiths (saying of the Prophet Muhammad) regarding charity are as given below:

- The charity of those who expend their wealth in the Way of Allah may be likened to a grain of corn, which produces seven ears and each ear yields a hundred grains. Likewise Allah develops manifold the charity of anyone He pleases, for He is All-Embracing, All-Wise. Quran 2:261

- “You who believe, do not cancel out your charitable deeds with reminders and hurtful words.” Quran 2:264
- Those who spend of their goods (in charity) by night and by day in secret and in public shall have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve. Quran 2:274

Hadiths (saying of the Prophet Muhammad)

- The Prophet said: “Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.” – Al-Tirmidhi
- The Prophet said: “The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity.” Al-Tirmidhi
- The Prophet said: “Charity obliterates sins just as water extinguishes fire.” Al-Tirmidhi