Matthieu Ricard: Meditation on Altruistic Love and Compassion

“Altruistic love turn into compassion when confronted with the suffering of others. Compassion is the wish that others may be free from suffering and its causes. For this to happen, we must be concerned about the fate of the other, be aware of their sufferings, wish that these be healed, and be ready to do … Continue reading Matthieu Ricard: Meditation on Altruistic Love and Compassion

What is Compassion?

“This short iMovie was created to share the meaning of Compassion to our Middle School students. Images were sources using Google images and set to a song from the Glee soundtrack. Note that the first few seconds are in blackout intentionally. “Compassion does come more easily to some children than others and when kids seem … Continue reading What is Compassion?

Pema Chodron: Awakening Compassion Part 1

“To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. To live fully is to be always in no-man’s-land, to experience each moment as completely new and fresh. To live is to be willing to die over and over again. “We already have everything we need. There … Continue reading Pema Chodron: Awakening Compassion Part 1

Dalai Lama: Compassion is not a Sign of Weakness

“While it is true that anger brings extra energy, if we explore the nature of this energy, we discover that it is blind: we cannot be sure whether its result will be positive or negative. This is because anger eclipses the best part of our brain: its rationality. So the energy of anger is almost … Continue reading Dalai Lama: Compassion is not a Sign of Weakness

Jon Kabat-Zinn: Conversations on Compassion

“Mindfulness is about love and loving life. When you cultivate this love, it gives you clarity and compassion for life, and your actions happen in accordance with that. “In Asian languages, the word for ‘mind’ and the word for ‘heart’ are same. So if you’re not hearing mindfulness in some deep way as heartfulness, you’re … Continue reading Jon Kabat-Zinn: Conversations on Compassion

Dr. James Doty: Science of Compassion

“While science and technology offer great hope to cure various ills, the cures I have seen are equally associated with the art of medicine. There is no science or technology that will hold or comfort a child in pain or comfort the dying. It is human touch and connection that is equally if not more … Continue reading Dr. James Doty: Science of Compassion

Kristin Neff: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion

“When faced with experiences of suffering or personal failure, self-compassion entails three basic components: (a) self-kindness — extending kindness and understanding to oneself rather than harsh judgment and self-criticism, (b) common humanity — seeing one’s experiences as part of the larger human experience rather than seeing them as separating and isolating, and (c) mindfulness — … Continue reading Kristin Neff: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion

Karen Armstrong on Compassion

Karen Armstrong talks about compassion and why we need to put the Golden Rule at the heart of our society. “The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly … Continue reading Karen Armstrong on Compassion

OSHO: Compassion – Ultimate Flowering of Love

Osho examines the nature of compassion from a radically different perspective. “What is that fundamental wrong? Where do things go wrong? Caring has conditions in it: ‘Do this! Be that!’ Have you ever loved anybody with no conditions? Have you ever loved anybody as he or she is? You don’t want to improve, you don’t … Continue reading OSHO: Compassion – Ultimate Flowering of Love