also: じがん
noun
merciful eye; compassionate gaze
Buddhist term referring to the compassionate, all-seeing gaze of a Buddha or bodhisattva watching over sentient beings. Not used in everyday conversation.
観音様の慈眼はすべての生きとし生けるものに注がれている。
The merciful eye of Kannon is directed toward all living beings.
仏像の慈眼に満ちた表情に心が和んだ。
My heart was soothed by the compassionate expression in the Buddha statue's eyes.
慈悲 is a broader term for compassion or mercy, while 慈眼 specifically refers to the compassionate gaze or eye of a Buddha or bodhisattva.
From 慈 (compassion) + 眼 (eye). A Buddhist term originally from Sanskrit or Pali concepts of the Buddha's compassionate gaze.