The idea may indeed seem far-fetched; if, as Buddhist teachings and now neuroscience tell us, compassion is inherent to our humanity, then why do we need to be trained in it?
My Experience
It is this question that has guided my personal practice and study over the past few years. I had heard many times before that compassion is innate to us, that it is the root of happiness and of a healthy relationship with ourselves and others. Yet, despite my desire to believe it, this idea remained abstract for a long time. By delving deeper into it over the past four years, I have not only intellectually understood the importance of compassion but have also experienced it in moments both extraordinary and ordinary, in times of joy as well as in times of sorrow. To live, act, and think from a place of compassion is to live fully, with passion, confidence, joy, and love. This is what I aim to share with you—not merely on a conceptual level, but in a very practical and down-to-earth way. So, for this fall, I’ve developed a 40-hour training course titled “Compassion and Meditation.”
How will the training be structured?
We’ll explore what compassion means—is it the same as empathy, love, or kindness? We’ll explore our own experience of compassion in a very intimate and nuanced way, practicing through traditional exercises drawn from Tibetan Buddhism, techniques developed by neuroscience, and personalized, daily practice guidance. From all of this will emerge a way of being compassionate that opens up an entirely new dimension to our existence.
This training program was developed based on my own research, practice, and studies. I drew inspiration from the Cognitive-Based Compassion Training program established by Emory University in the U.S., my studies with Cortland Dahl at Tergar International and the Center for Healthy Minds, my extensive reading on the subject, and above all, my practice and study with Mingyur Rinpoche, as well as Tsoknyi Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. The 14th Dalai Lama tells us:
World peace must grow from inner peace. Peace is not merely the absence of violence. Peace is the manifestation of human compassion.
A Path
Let us therefore cultivate compassion, so that we may recognize and awaken within ourselves an innate power capable of radiating out into our world. I offer this training to you with humility and enthusiasm; I, too, am on the path and in no way claim to have arrived anywhere—but I think I understand a little of how the path is marked, and I invite you to come explore it with me. Together, let’s build a compassionate world, gesture by gesture, word by word, thought by thought.