Compassion In Action

Featuring an eye-catching new cover, this classic guide is for those ready to commit time and energy to relieving suffering in the world. No two people are better qualified to help us along this path than Ram Dass, who has spent more than 25 years teaching and writing on the subject of living consciously, and Mirabi Bush, who succeeded him as chairperson of the Seva Foundation.

Compassion to Action reminds us of the heart of God for people. Jesus is moved by compassion for all types of people, not just the poor. Jesus was, and is, a sign and a wonder. His life represents the heart of the Father and the compassion and mercy He has for humanity. Compassion is a gift from God. It is a love that empowers us to feel what God feels toward people and helps empower us into action. Jesus was moved with compassion, and it led Him into action. What will it lead you to do?

Scotlund Haisley, the founder and president of Animal Rescue Corps, has spent more than twenty-five years saving the lives of thousands of animals. Wearing a respirator mask for protection from the piercing ammonia that hangs in the air and with law enforcement officials at his side, he infiltrates puppy mills, animal fighting operations, and other large-scale cases of animal cruelty, freeing dogs, cats, horses, and other animals from a life of wire cages, filth, and starvation—and sending them on their way to loving, protective caregivers. Filled with dramatic rescues, Compassion in Action is a gripping ride through the underworld of those who profit from the enslavement of animals. From dogs trained for fighting to emaciated horses to animals stranded during natural disasters, the author and his team save animals from heartbreaking conditions, changing attitudes—and laws—along the way. It is a story of hope for the most vulnerable among us.

With her concept of “Even fifty cents can save a life,” Dharma Master Cheng Yen began to challenge people’s conceptions of the impossible. A group of ordinary housewives were the first to believe in and follow her. The major organization that Tzu Chi is today began with this group of housewives. While lodging at Puming Temple, despite having nothing to her name, she was driven by one simple but resolute belief: “If I eat until I am eighty percent full, I can save the remaining twenty percent to help those in need.” With this hardworking and frugal mindset, Master Cheng Yen and her disciples overcame countless hardships to expand their charity work. She explained, “I have faith in my own selflessness and faith in the love of others. I established the Tzu Chi Merit Association not for my own sake, but ‘for Buddha’s teachings and for sentient beings.’ I believe that everyone has an abundance of love in their hearts. As long as there is someone to guide them, they can exercise their power of kindness.” Volume 2 (1966-1977): The beginnings of Tzu Chi’s charity mission.

The 28th Governor General's most personal and timely book to date: a passionate and practical guide for turning empathy into action. As the world stumbles through the most severe pandemic of the last century, threatened by teetering economies, torn by political division, separated by unequal access to resources, and wrestling with issues as diverse as racism, gender, cybercrime, and climate change, the nations that best adapt and prosper are those in which empathy is fully alive and widely active. Written for a post-pandemic world, Empathy is a book about learning to be empathetic and then turning that empathy into action. Based on the personal experiences of author David Johnston, the book explores how awakening to the transformative power of listening and caring permanently changes individuals, families, communities, and nations. A how-to manual for a world craving kindness, Empathy offers proof of the inherent goodness of people, and shows how exercising the instinct for kindness creates societies that are both smart and caring. Through poignant stories and crisp observations, David contends that “Everyone has power over some things that other people don’t. When they learn ways to turn that power into action, they change the future dramatically.” With clear and practical focus, Empathy looks at a host of issues that demand our attention, from education and immigration, to healthcare, the law, policing, business ethics, and criminal justice. In each of these areas, Johnston highlights the deeper understandings that have arisen during the COVID-19 crisis, with sharp emphasis on the positive and negative lessons now in crisp focus. Convinced that empathy is the fastest route to peace and progress in all their forms, David ends each short chapter with a set of practical steps the reader can take to make the world better, one deliberate action at a time.

"Intelligence & Compassion in Action is a tool to empower the aspiring social entrepreneur, with real guidance as to how, and why, social entrepreneurship works. It expounds a new Seven Pillar methodology, inspired by the wisdom of former President James Earl "Jimmy" Carter. Written by the founder of The Elfenworks Foundation, Dr. Lauren Speeth, who lives the lessons she teaches in this book daily, the insights within these pages have come from Speeth's years of experience in technology, management, and the nonprofit world, as well as from insights gained in interviews with extraordinary social entrepreneurs." -- cover p. [4].

Kristin Neff, Ph.D., says that it’s time to “stop beating yourself up and leave insecurity behind.” Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind offers expert advice on how to limit self-criticism and offset its negative effects, enabling you to achieve your highest potential and a more contented, fulfilled life. More and more, psychologists are turning away from an emphasis on self-esteem and moving toward self-compassion in the treatment of their patients—and Dr. Neff’s extraordinary book offers exercises and action plans for dealing with every emotionally debilitating struggle, be it parenting, weight loss, or any of the numerous trials of everyday living.

Presenting an outline of the four necessary steps for meeting suffering with compassion, this insightful book shows how to build a capacity for compassion into the structures and practices of an organization. --