Compassion

The practice of compassion has been a guiding principle in the world’s major religious and ethical traditions for centuries, but it has never been needed more urgently than it is today.

By developing compassion and loving kindness both for ourselves and others, we discover a stable sense of self-esteem and a healthy, nourishing love for ourselves. This supplies the basis from which we can begin to direct our minds to relieving the suffering of all beings.

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With compassion, kindness and a real genuine sense of brotherhood and sisterhood, there is a great possibility of achieving real, lasting peace in the world.

H.H. the Dalai Lama

We all have the seed of compassion—the wish to actively remove suffering in our world. By training in compassion, beginning with ourselves, step by step, we break down barriers and awaken from the illusion of our separateness. When compassion is developed to its deepest extent and infused with wisdom, it gives rise to bodhichitta, ‘the heart of the enlightened mind’, the most courageous and noble of all human qualities, and the very essence of Buddha’s teachings.

“What is compassion? It is not simply a sense of sympathy or caring for the person suffering, not simply a warmth of heart toward the person before you, or a sharp clarity of recognition of their needs and pain, it is also a sustained and practical determination to do whatever is possible and necessary to help alleviate their suffering.” Sogyal Rinpoche

Discover for yourself how self-compassion and compassion can bring benefit to yourself and others.