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Compassion Talks

Compassion is a social feeling that motivates people to go out of their way to relieve the physical, mental, or emotional pains of others and themselves. Compassion is sensitivity to the emotional aspects of the suffering of others. When based on notions such as fairness, justice, and interdependence, it may be considered partially rational in nature.
Compassion involves "feeling for another" and is a precursor to empathy, the "feeling as another" capacity (as opposed to sympathy, the "feeling towards another"). In common parlance, active compassion is the desire to alleviate another's suffering.
Compassion involves allowing oneself to be moved by suffering to help alleviate and prevent it. An act of compassion is one that is intended to be helpful. Other virtues that harmonize with compassion include patience, wisdom, kindness, perseverance, warmth, and resolve. It is often, though not inevitably, the key component in altruism. The difference between sympathy and compassion is that the former responds to others' suffering with sorrow and concern whereas the latter responds with warmth and care. An article in Clinical Psychology Review suggests that "compassion consists of three facets: noticing, feeling, and responding".
In Buddhism, compassion is the heartfelt wish to relieve the suffering of all beings, paired with the courage to act. Compassionate actions plant seeds of joy in others—and in ourselves—making them a true source of lasting happiness.
Title | Speaker | |
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Embodied Koans: Living Zen ActionSerial: RB-00854 Seminar_Lay_Practice_and_Koan_Study Koan, Culture, Compassion |
Sep 1993 Roseburg |
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Spiritual Teaching of the Brief Rule of Saint RomualdSerial: NC-00037 Part of "Spiritual Teaching of the Brief Rule of Saint Romuald" Talk #1 is missing. Archival Photo OSB Cam, Emotions, Monastic Practice, Compassion, Intimacy, Observe |
1993 2 of 4 (#1 missing) New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Monastic Spirituality for the Christian in the WorldSerial: NC-00081A Monastic Spirituality for the Christian in the World Archival Photo OSB Cam, Repentance, Compassion, Japan, Fasting, Vow |
1993 3 of 6 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Monastic Spirituality for the Christian in the WorldSerial: NC-00082A Monastic Spirituality for the Christian in the World Archival Photo OSB Cam, Enemies, Commitment, Compassion, Intention, Emotions |
1993 5 of 6 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Compassionate Balance: Justice Through EmptinessSerial: RB-00812 Compassion_The_Dance_of_Love_and_Emptiness Practice, Compassion, Emptiness |
Sep 27 1992 München |
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Inherent Equanimity: Beyond MoralitySerial: RB-00811 Compassion_The_Dance_of_Love_and_Emptiness Practice, Anger, Compassion |
Sep 26 1992 München |
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Zen Path: Compassion through EmptinessSerial: RB-00810 Compassion_The_Dance_of_Love_and_Emptiness Time, Compassion, Practice |
Sep 26 1992 München |
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Awakening Through Compassionate PerceptionSerial: RB-00804 Sesshin Compassion, Love, Emptiness |
Sep 1992 Roseburg |
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Presence in the Dance of ZenSerial: RB-00774 Sesshin Compassion, Practice, Time |
Jun 1992 Roseburg |
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Christian Love as Source, Way and FulfillmentSerial: NC-00079 Part of "Christian Love as Source, Way and Fulfillment of Christian Life" (including discussion and questions of retreat participants) Archival Photo ...OSB Cam, Enemies, Anger, Compassion, Hindrances, Diversity |
1992 4 of 4 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Retreat Conferences #1 and #2Serial: NC-00521 Retreat Conference #1 - #2, hosted by Fr Robert Hale OSB Cam, Monastic Practice, Conversation, Daily Life, Compassion |
Aug 04 1991 1-2 of 7 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Contemplation and Contemplative LifeSerial: NC-00634 Introduction by Robert Hale. Fr Bede chanting. OSB Cam, Ego, Compassion, Anger |
Aug 04 1991 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Retreat Conferences #5 and #6Serial: NC-00523 Retreat Conference #5-#6, hosted by Fr Robert Hale OSB Cam, Monastic Practice, Compassion, Demons, Concentration |
Aug 1991 5-6 of 7 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Retreat Conference #7Serial: NC-00524 Retreat Conference #7, hosted by Fr Robert Hale OSB Cam, Monastic Practice, Compassion, Demons, Anger |
Aug 1991 7 of 7 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Embodied Compassion in Zen PracticeSerial: RB-00737 Seminar_The_Bodhisattva-Mahasattva-Practices Practice, Consciousness, Compassion |
1991 Münster |
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Dzögchen TeachingsSerial: SF-02718 Commercially produced cassette Emptiness, Compassion, Practice |
Oct 08 1989 San Jose |
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Emptiness and Compassion: Public Talk Serial 00058 Love, Compassion, Suffering |
Nov 13 1988 |
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Visualization and Mantra in Buddhist Meditation Serial 00059 Suffering, Practice, Compassion |
Nov 12 1988 Tape 2 |
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Parting from the 4 Attachments Serial 00036 Suffering, Compassion, Love |
Nov 10 1988 Part 2 |
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Insight of BuddhismSerial: SF-01949 Date given as 1988.04.28 on cassette Time, Compassion, Meditation |
May 28 1988 San Francisco Zen Center |
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YontenzotSerial: SF-01831 "Chhoje Tulku" Bodhisattva, Compassion, Time |
Apr 24 1988 San Francisco Zen Center |
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Benefits of Meditation for Self and Others Serial 00004 Practice, Time, Compassion |
Apr 18 1988 Tape 1 |
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Visualization in Vajrayana Practice Serial 00005 Practice, Meditation, Compassion |
Apr 16 1988 Tape 1 |
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November 30th, 1987, Serial No. 00384 Consciousness, Delusion, Religion, Oneness, Subject-and-Object, Compassion, American... |
Nov 30 1987 |
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Sunday Lecture Bodhisattva, Time, Compassion |
Jul 25 1987 Green Gulch Farm |
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February 8th, 1987, Serial No. 00386 Buddha Nature, Intimacy, Anger, Meditation, Separation, Patience, Emotions,... |
Feb 08 1987 |
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February 5th, 1987, Serial No. 00377 Impermanence, Emotions, Separation, causation, Compassion, Consciousness, Passions,... |
Feb 05 1987 |
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Ascension Through Humility and CommunityOSB Cam, Compassion, Patience, Pain, Daily Life, Beginners |
1987 7-8 of 14 |
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Zazen: The Essence of Non-Dualism Dragons, Transmission, Dharma Transmission, Consciousness, Patience, American,... |
Dec 08 1985 |
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Zen Paths to Unified Insight Monastic Practice, Compassion, Meditation, Commitment, Dragons, Concentration,... |
Dec 08 1985 |
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December 8th, 1985, Serial No. 00374 Compassion |
Dec 08 1985 |
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December 7th, 1985, Serial No. 00362 Oneness, Discrimination, Compassion |
Dec 07 1985 |
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Zen Wisdom Through Living Experience Evil, Pain, Attachment, Consciousness, Happiness, New Year, Don't Know Mind,... |
Dec 06 1985 |
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December 6th, 1985, Serial No. 00371 Attachment, Compassion, New Year, Don't Know Mind, Consciousness, Intention,... |
Dec 06 1985 |
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Mindful Path to Infinite Truths Concentration, Compassion, Lay, Soto Zen, Mindfulness, Don't Know Mind,... |
Jan 14 1985 |
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Reimagining Spirituality: Wisdom Meets JusticeSerial: NC-00672 Miscellaneous Buddha, Buddhism, Politics, Intuition, Compassion |
Sep 1984 |
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Introduction to TheologySerial: NC-01112 "Task of Becoming Fully Human in a Christian Way." OSB Cam, Anger, Compassion, Transmission |
Feb 1984 14 of 19 New Clairvaux Abbey |
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Introduction to TheologyOSB Cam, Obstacles, Compassion, Instruction |
Feb 1984 19 of 19 New Clairvaux Abbey |
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Introduction to TheologyOSB Cam, Intuition, Compassion, Interview |
Feb 1984 15 of 19 New Clairvaux Abbey |
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Introduction to TheologyOSB Cam, Compassion, Happiness, Hindrances, War |
Feb 1984 10 of 19 New Clairvaux Abbey |
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Eucharist - IndianSerial: NC-00447 Bede Griffiths introduces chant. Group (women and men) chanting. OSB Cam, Offering, Enemies, Ego, Forgiveness, Compassion |
Sep 11 1983 1 of 4 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Eucharist - IndianSerial: NC-00593 Group (men and women) chanting with Indian instruments. Is this the same as NC 00447, #item-set-086? OSB Cam, Offering, Enemies, Ego, Forgiveness, Compassion |
Sep 11 1983 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Christ as Creation's Hidden TreasureSerial: NC-00396 Monastic Theology Series Set 1 of 3 Emptiness, Breath, Compassion |
Jul 13 1983 |
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ExodusSerial: NC-00939 Class #1 (9 Dec 82) and #2 (16 Dec 82) on the Book of Exodus. OSB Cam, Anger, Breath, Compassion, Precepts, Ceremony |
Dec 09 1982 1 of 3 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Virtues as the Foundation of LifeSerial: NC-00861 Monastic Spirituality Set 8 of 12 OSB Cam, Forgiveness, Compassion, Patience |
Oct 28 1982 |
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Building the House of VirtuesSerial: NC-00862 Monastic Spirituality Set 8 of 12 OSB Cam, Patience, Compassion, Daily Life, Fasting, Emotions |
Oct 15 1982 |
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1982.09.04-serial.00111 Compassion, Impermanence, Daily Life, Buddha Nature, Birth-and-Death, Intuition, Lay... |
Sep 04 1982 |
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The Spiritual Paradox of TruthSerial: NC-00996 Monastic Spirituality, Set 7 of 12 OSB Cam, Anger, Demons, Fox, Forgiveness, Compassion |
Jul 28 1982 |
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Joyful Embrace of Zen Wisdom Liberation, Lotus Sutra, Consciousness, Soto Zen, Community, Compassion, Realization... |
May 24 1982 |
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Eternal Wisdom in Impermanent Reality Impermanence, Nirvana, Birth-and-Death, difficulty, Buddha Mind, Emotions, Buddha... |
May 07 1982 |