Cultivating Compassion: A Buddhist Perspective

“Compassion is the heartfelt wish that all sentient beings be free from suffering. We have a responsibility to each other; we cannot act out of mere self-centeredness.” What compels some people to act compassionately without giving it a second thought, while for others it almost seems against their nature? And what will become of our society if compassion dwindles? According to Buddhist thought, compassion is society, and esteemed Buddhist scholar-practitioner Jeffrey Hopkins knows that by learning to live from a more compassionate viewpoint, we can create a better life not only for ourselves but for others. Cultivating Compassion is his eloquent, practical guide to tapping our own potential for caring and processing the thoughts and beliefs that interfere with our ability to interact with others in a meaningful, positive way. Through Buddhist meditations (including the Dalai Lama’s favorite), visualizations, and entertaining recollections from his personal journey to more compassionate living, Hopkins guides us in developing an awareness of the capacity for love inside us, and learning to project that love into the world around us. The meditations presented here stem from a central Tibetan practice used to develop deep-seated compassion and altruism, and build on each other to culminate in a strong sense of empathy for all beings. By incorporating these simple yet powerful meditations into your life, you will open your mind to the sensibilities of care and concern for others—what Hopkins refers to as the seed of Buddhahood. Delivering a potent message with the power to change our relationships and improve the quality of our lives, Cultivating Compassion is the ideal book for an age in which our dealings with each other seem increasingly impersonal—and even violent and aggressive. Anyone seeking release from negative emotions such as anger, or simply wanting to increase the love and caring among us, will welcome this timely vision for humanity.… (more)