I must learn to love the fool in me—the one Compassion: Deep This is the sum of who feels too much, awareness of the duty: do not do to talks too much, takes suffering of another others what would too many chances, loves coupled with the cause pain if done and hates, hurts and wish to relieve it. to you. gets hurt, promises and Dictionary.com Mahabharata 5:1517 breaks promises, laughs, and cries. Theodore Isaac Rubin In cultivating compassion, When people shine a light we draw from the whole- on their monster, we find ness of our experience— out how similar most of suffering, our empathy, as our monsters are…. My own suffering well as our cruelty and When people let their terror…. Compassion is monsters out…it turns is the grounds not a relationship between out that we’ve all done or for empathy. the healer and the thought the same things, Piero Ferrucci wounded. It’s a relation- that this is our lot, this is ship between equals. our condition. Pema Chodron Anne Lamott Our task must be to free A person with ubuntu is ourselves…by widening open and available to others, our circle of compassion to affirming to others, does not embrace all living creatures feel threatened that others A selfless deed, and the whole of nature in are able and good, for he or witnessed up close, is its beauty. Nobody is able she…[knows] he or she to achieve this completely, belongs in a greater whole like a lamp blazing up but the striving for such and is diminished when from darkness before achievement is in itself a others are humiliated or your pupils can adjust. part of the liberation and diminished…or treated as Marc Ian Barasch a foundation for inner if they were less than who security. they are. Albert Einstein Desmond Tutu To discuss I must learn to love the To discuss What role does compassion To discuss and/or the “Golden Rule” play fool in me—the one Self-compassion involves self- What does compassion mean to in your religion, spiritual practice, Compassion: Deep This is the sum of kindness and understanding that you? How have you experienced it? who feels too much, or life philosophy? awareness of the duty: do not do to talks too much, takes we are part of a common (and imperfect) humanity. How can you To do To do Explore the Charter for Compassion suffering of another others what would too many chances, loves practice more self-compassion? Think of a person you find website, charterforcompassion.org. difficult. The next time you are coupled with the cause pain if done and hates, hurts and To do Read about others’ compassionate with that person, practice the gets hurt, promises and Do one kind thing for yourself actions and commitments. Add wish to relieve it. to you. Golden Rule. Notice how the each day. your own. Dictionary.com Mahabharata 5:1517 breaks promises, laughs, dynamic changes when you and cries. do this. Theodore Isaac Rubin In cultivating compassion, When people shine a light To discuss To discuss To discuss we draw from the whole- on their monster, we find What “monsters” are you hiding? How has your own suffering How does accepting yourself, with ness of our experience— out how similar most of enlarged your capacity to be To do all of your imperfections, help or suffering, our empathy, as our monsters are…. My own suffering compassionate toward others? Sit quietly. Think about those hurt your ability to relate to others as equals? well as our cruelty and When people let their To do aspects of yourself you don’t like. is the grounds Don’t judge them, but instead terror…. Compassion is monsters out…it turns Contemplate key events in your To do come to them with kindness not a relationship between out that we’ve all done or for empathy. life that caused you suffering and Observe what you say to yourself and forgiveness. Return to this what that has taught you about today about your mistakes or the healer and the thought the same things, Piero Ferrucci practice when you find you are empathy and compassion. shortcomings. wounded. It’s a relation- that this is our lot, this is judging yourself harshly. ship between equals. our condition. Pema Chodron Anne Lamott Our task must be to free A person with ubuntu is ourselves…by widening open and available to others, To discuss To discuss our circle of compassion to affirming to others, does not Do you think feeling separate from To discuss In the Bantu languages of South embrace all living creatures feel threatened that others others is real or a delusion? Why? A selfless deed, What selfless deeds have you Africa, saying someone has and the whole of nature in are able and good, for he or witnessed up close, is done for or received from others? ubuntu is high praise. Is there a To do its beauty. Nobody is able she…[knows] he or she What was that like for you? concept like that in your language Help a stranger today. It can be like a lamp blazing up or culture? to achieve this completely, belongs in a greater whole To do as simple as opening a door, carrying a package, letting that but the striving for such and is diminished when from darkness before Do one “selfless deed” each day To do person go in front of you in line, your pupils can adjust. for a week. Consider how you can be more achievement is in itself a others are humiliated or or saying “hello.” Broaden your affirming to others. part of the liberation and diminished…or treated as Marc Ian Barasch circle of compassion. a foundation for inner if they were less than who security. they are. Albert Einstein Desmond Tutu If only we can overcome cruelty, to human and Cultivate compassion If you want others to animal, with love and all day and everyday. be happy, practice compassion we shall stand Now, when things compassion. If you at the threshold of a new are difficult, it’s time want to be happy, era in human moral and spiritual evolution—and to practice. practice compassion. realize, at last, our most Karen Armstrong His Holiness the Dalai Lama unique quality: humanity. Jane Goodall Only other wounded I am the Lorax. Although the world people can understand I speak for the trees. what is needed, for the is full of suffering, I speak for the trees healing of suffering it is full also of the for the trees have is compassion, not overcoming of it. no tongues. expertise. Helen Keller Rachel Naomi Remen The Lorax / Dr. Seuss “ True compassion is born of the truth that we are one; that separateness is The greatest distance illusion; that we are infinite in the world is the beings…. From this place 14 inches from our of deep humility, we can minds to our hearts. draw limitless strength, and endless compassion. Agnes Baker Pilgrim charterforcompassion.org ” To discuss If only we can overcome What have you learned about care To discuss and compassion from animals cruelty, to human and To discuss Why is practicing compassion and other living beings? Cultivate compassion If you want others to animal, with love and Who are your role models of more important when things are all day and everyday. be happy, practice To do compassion and why? difficult? What one thing can you compassion we shall stand commit to do each day to be at the threshold of a new If you have an animal, give it To do Now, when things compassion. If you your full attention for ten minutes more compassionate to yourself Write down when you’ve been a era in human moral and today. If you don’t have an animal, and others? are difficult, it’s time want to be happy, role model of compassion and spend some time appreciating the spiritual evolution—and how that felt. To do to practice. practice compassion. natural world: visit a park, look at realize, at last, our most Do that one thing. Karen Armstrong His Holiness the Dalai Lama the nature you pass on the way to unique quality: humanity. school or work, or out a window. Jane Goodall To discuss To discuss How do you navigate news and To discuss Only other wounded experiences of suffering each day? How do painful experiences I am the Lorax. Who or what might you “speak affect your capacity to be people can understand Although the world for” who has no voice? I speak for the trees. To do compassionate toward others? what is needed, for the is full of suffering, To do Think of someone you know or I speak for the trees know of who is suffering in some To do healing of suffering Do one thing this week to nurture it is full also of the way. Try to imagine what life is like Observe, without judgment, how for the trees have an animal or help preserve the is compassion, not for them. See if you can come up you react to your own and others’ overcoming of it. natural world. expertise. no tongues. with one thing you can do to make suffering today. Helen Keller today better for them. Then, do it. Rachel Naomi Remen The Lorax / Dr. Seuss To discuss “ To discuss True compassion is born Share an experience when you listened to your mind over your To discuss of the truth that we are heart.