Cultivating Kindness

Warning: Using this book could be hazardous to your ego! The slogans it contains are designed to awaken the heart and cultivate love and kindness toward others. They are revolutionary in that practicing them fosters abandonment of personal territory in relating to others and in understanding the world as it is. The fifty-nine provocative slogans presented here-each with a commentary by the Tibetan meditation master Chogyam Trungpa-have been used by Tibetan Buddhists for eight centuries to help meditation students remember and focus on important principles and practices of mind training. They emphasize meeting the ordinary situations of life with intelligence and compassion under all circumstances. Slogans include, "Don't be swayed by external circumstances," "Be grateful to everyone," and "Always maintain only a joyful mind." This edition contains a new foreword by Pema Chodron.

Cultivating Kindness sheds light on just how children and adolescents are kind, especially in school. Grounded in psychological and educational research on kindness and supported with illustrations capturing the voices of public school students, this book enhances our understanding of kindness. Written with educators in mind, Cultivating Kindness draws from surveys and interviews with more than three thousand children and adolescents. Author John-Tyler Binfet shares perspectives on kindness from the very individuals we hope will embrace kindness. Interwoven among examples from students are findings from peer-reviewed studies on topics exploring the role of joy and stress contagions on fostering or thwarting kindness, the concept of kind discipline, and how to measure kindness in school. This book also includes a kindness checklist to guide educators wishing to implement and foster kindness in their classrooms or schools. In addition to practical scenarios challenging the reader to respond kindly, a repository of kindness resources to support the continued kindness education of readers is also included.

This book explores how digital storytelling can catalyze change in healthcare. Edited by the co-founders of the award-winning Patient Voices Programme, the authors discuss various applications for this technique; from using digital storytelling as a reflective process, to the use of digital stories in augmenting quantitative data. Through six main sections this second edition covers areas including healthcare education, patient engagement, quality improvement and the use of digital storytelling research. The chapters illuminate how digital storytelling can lead to greater humanity, understanding and, ultimately, compassion. This collection will appeal to those involved in delivering, managing or receiving healthcare and healthcare education and research, as well as people interested in digital storytelling and participatory media.

“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. From the Hardcover edition.

Guan Yin Bodhisattva is the Bodhisattva who “hears the cries of those suffering and rescues them” (Universal Door Chapter, The Lotus Sutra). The Bodhisattva is widely revered in the East, where many Buddhists pray to and invoke Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s name. In this booklet, Lingyen Mountain Temple seeks to introduce Guan Yin Bodhisattva to both English and Chinese-speaking audiences. We look to Guan Yin Bodhisattva–not simply to solve our everyday woes; rather we must constantly recite the Bodhisattva’s name with sincerity and respect, as the Sutra teaches. That will reduce our greed, anger, and ignorance and nurture our pure Bodhi minds. Then we will find a deep accord with Guan Yin Bodhisattva and, like the Bodhisattva, reach out with empathy and compassion toward all sentient beings. Cultivating Compassion with Guan Yin Bodhisattva indicates which sutras to study to learn more about Guan Yin Bodhisattva and clarifies frequently asked questions about the Bodhisattva’s form, merits, and virtues, and aspirations for the liberation of sentient beings. Relying on Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s meritorious virtues and sincerely reciting the Bodhisattva’s name, or the Great Compassion Mantra, can also lead to rebirth in the Pure Lands of Ten Directions, including Amitabha Buddha’s Western Pure Land. Focus on both Amitabha Buddha and Guan Yin Bodhisattva and you can be assured a future life of Ultimate Bliss. Lingyen Mountain Temple invites readers to open their hearts to the compassion of the Bodhisattva. May we learn to hear the cries of the world like Guan Yin Bodhisattva and deliver all sentient beings to the Ultimate Bliss of Buddhahood.

In homes and school communities nationwide, there is re-energized interest in the values of community, compassion, and tolerance, and in finding our way to a kinder culture—a culture that starts with our families. Headlines speak of hate crimes, intolerance, and us-versus-them divisiveness. Recent political events have left many Americans yearning for unity, respect, and compassion in our national discourse. In our schools, bullying continues to be a pervasive problem, and in our homes, "screen-time" poses a constant threat to 'family time.' Research shows that connection and social engagement are key to successful, fulfilling lives, and yet we have never been less connected than we are now. Perhaps more than any other group, parents recognize the potential damage of this trend. Children who are raised in a culture where giving and compassion are valued become happier and more positively engaged with those around them. They are less likely to treat others disrespectfully. With increased concern about meanness and bullying, you may be among the many parents who see the need for more civil, respectful, and considerate behavior among our children. The Kindness Advantage is a practical and concrete guide for you to equip your child with the skills they need to have a positive influence on the world. We all benefit when children are raised with the understanding that they can have an impact by making conscious choices. It's never too early to start your child on a path of fulfillment through meaningful connection with others. Designed to be read with children as young as four, the book presents ten fundamental concepts to weave into your family's daily life. Using text, quotes, questions and real life stories, The Kindness Advantage is the first book parents need to think about and teach the necessary skills to be a kind, compassionate person. Each idea on its own is simple and unintimidating, yet together they form the powerful foundation parents need to go beyond teaching "please" and "thank-you" to form kindness habits that will last a lifetime. In a world where kindness is so greatly needed, The Kindness Advantage offers inspiration and activities to teach kids empathy, inspire a culture of compassion and connection, and empower children to make a difference in their community and the world.

Kiko is a gardener. She takes care of her garden with seeds, soil, water, and sunshine. In Grow Happy, Kiko also demonstrates how she cultivates happiness, just like she does in her garden. Using positive psychology and choice theory, this book shows children that they have the tools to nurture their own happiness and live resiliently. Includes a “Note to Parents and Caregivers” with information on how our choices and paying attention to our bodies and feelings affects happiness.

Compassion Counts! What are the secrets to cultivating a compassionate way of being that can make life easier and more enjoyable for ourselves and others? The Compassion Counts survey set out to explore the best life hacks from caregivers across Canada, Central America, China, the United Kingdom and United States. All around the world, people find ways to make sense of their lives, workplaces and communities. Many of us ask ourselves, "How do I stay strong during times of such unprecedented change and uncertainty?" We asked 100 caring professionals what they are grateful for and appreciate most in life. How do we recognize when we are running on empty? What lifts us up during tough times? How best to evade overwhelm? Essentially, what strategies can we share, as caring global citizens, to continue to be our best selves during these uncertain times? In this beautiful, inspiring and evocative book, we are invited to pause and open ourselves to inquiry: What sustains us? How do we remain centred and compassionate during challenging times? This book provides insights to lighten our journey by making small changes, which are possible even when we are just one small part of this complex play. This collection invites us to recognize the strengths and resources that we already possess, and provides inspiration to integrate a host of new wellness strategies. Whether you decide to read this book from start to finish or simply decide to open a page at random for your daily wellness inspiration, you will be grateful that you did.