Equalizing ourselves and others means recognizing that others wish for joy and freedom from misery is just as strong and equally important as our own.
An Open-Hearted Life: Equalizing and exchanging self and others
A series of talks based on An Open-Hearted Life given at Sravasti Abbey’s monthly Sharing the Dharma Day in April 2017. Co-written by Venerable Thubten Chodron and clinical psychologist Dr. Russell Kolts, the book offers practical Buddhist and Western psychological approaches to developing compassion.
An Open-Hearted Life (SDD) RSS feed for this section
A series of talks based on An Open-Hearted Life given at Sravasti Abbey’s monthly Sharing the Dharma Day in April 2017. Co-written by Venerable Thubten Chodron and clinical psychologist Dr. Russell Kolts, the book offers practical Buddhist and Western psychological approaches to developing compassion.
An Open-Hearted Life: Love and compassion
Developing love and compassion, steps four and five of the seven-point instruction to cultivate altruism, and what it means to have compassion for your self.
An Open-Hearted Life: The seven-point instruction of cause and effect
How to reflect on the first three steps of the seven-point instruction to recognize the kindness of others and arouse the wish to repay their kindness.
An Open-Hearted Life: Cultivating compassion and equanimity
Equanimity, a mind free from bias and indifference, is important in order to have the kind of love and compassion that extends to all beings equally.
Imagery and method acting: Cultivating our compassionate selves
How we can use our imagination to develop compassion and other positive qualities.
“An Open-Hearted Life”: Establishing compassionate habits
As with learning any new skill or habit, it takes purposeful effort to establish compassionate habits. Eventually it becomes effortless.
“An Open-Hearted Life”: Beyond Blame
How it’s possible to go beyond blaming others or our self and work together to alleviate the suffering that everyone experiences in a difficult situation.
“An Open-Hearted Life”: Being responsible for our emotions
When disturbing emotions arise we have a choice. The Buddhist teachings offer practical methods to change counterproductive, habitual emotional responses.
“An Open-Hearted Life”: A Healthy Diet for the Mind
How cultivating compassion is like engaging in a mental fitness program for the mind. What we feed our mind, what we attend to, shapes us and our experience.
“An Open-Hearted Life”: Becoming friends with ourselves
Becoming our own friend means treating ourselves with kindness, respect and compassion; celebrating our successes while working to improve.