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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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Embracing Bodhisattva Challenges with Compassion Lotus Sutra, Intimacy, Compassion, difficulty, Evil, Discrimination, Offering,... |
Apr 23 1982 |
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Transformative Enlightenment and Equality Repentance, Dragons, Lotus Sutra, Offering, Compassion, Hindrances, Don't Know... |
Apr 12 1982 |
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Enlightenment: Personal Realization, Communal Validation Transmission, Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Dharma Transmission, Buddha Mind, Patience... |
Mar 19 1982 |
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Eternal Light and Timeless Liberation Buddha Nature, Buddha Mind, Perfect Wisdom, Nirvana, Liberation, Compassion,... |
Mar 12 1982 |
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Predictive Pathways to Enlightenment Buddha Nature, Compassion, Suffering, Meditation, Evil, Funeral, Precepts, Silence,... |
Mar 08 1982 |
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Journey to the Magic City Within causation, Impermanence, Consciousness, Compassion, Evil, Politics, Separation,... |
Mar 01 1982 |
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Embracing Imperfection in Monastic UnitySerial: NC-00877 Monastic Spirituality Set 3 of 12 OSB Cam, Commitment, Vow, Happiness, Liberation, Compassion |
May 13 1981 |
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February 8th, 1981, Serial No. 00400 Compassion, Concentration, Beginners, Delusion, American, Nirvana, Pain |
Feb 08 1981 |
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February 4th, 1981, Serial No. 00397 Continuous Practice, Impermanence, Compassion, Silence, Realization, Building, Bell,... |
Feb 04 1981 |
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Chastity: The Spiritual Path to LoveSerial: NC-00858 Monastic Spirituality Set 9 of 12 OSB Cam, Vow, Ego, Compassion, Cultivation, Anger |
Nov 14 1980 |
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Everyday Zazen: Mindful Living Art Breath, Posture, Compassion, Discrimination, Meditation, causation, American,... |
Dec 21 1979 |
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Compassion in Adversity Time, Compassion, Practice |
Oct 01 1979 |
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Cultivating Wisdom Through Zen Practice Greed, Evil, Realization, Commitment, Beginners, Anger, Community, Discrimination,... |
Mar 09 1979 |
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Contentment in Simplicity: The Zen Path Silence, Compassion, Building, Balance, Culture, Breath, Religion, Suffering... |
Mar 05 1979 |
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Serenity Through Minimal Desire Silence, Building, Balance, Compassion, Suffering, Enemies, Culture, Breath, Religion... |
Mar 05 1979 |
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Riding Beyond Desires to Freedom Eight Awarenesses, Suffering, Consciousness, Anger, Humility, Compassion, Pain,... |
Mar 02 1979 |
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Awakening Through Zen Integration Compassion, Eight Awarenesses, Posture, Consciousness, Balance, Evil, Mahayana,... |
Feb 26 1979 |
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Awakening Through Dharma Transmission Eight Awarenesses, Compassion, Balance, Posture, Consciousness, Nirvana, Evil,... |
Feb 26 1979 |
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Becoming Zen: Path to Ego-Free Harmony Compassion, Fox, causation, Anger, Teacher-and-Student, Buddha Nature, Realization,... |
Sep 01 1977 |
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Embracing the Eternal Buddha Nature Compassion, Transmission, Politics, Attachment, Don't Know Mind, Buddha Nature,... |
Aug 30 1977 |
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Love's Essence: A Buddhist Perspective Compassion, Hate, Politics, Community, Attachment, Suffering, Consciousness, Pain,... |
Aug 28 1977 |
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Egoless Journey to Enlightenment Subject-and-Object, Intuition, Hindrances, Compassion, Continuous Practice, Buddha... |
Aug 24 1977 |
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Silence and the Path to Insight Silence, Buddha Nature, Hate, Beginners, Anger, Fox, Balance, Emotions, Compassion... |
Aug 29 1976 |
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Dynamic Unity of Life and Death Realization, Birth-and-Death, Precepts, Compassion, Enemies, Oneness, Silence,... |
Aug 28 1975 |
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Living Death: Embracing Non-Duality Precepts, Compassion, Oneness, Silence |
Aug 26 1975 |
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Zen Lessons Beyond Words Practice, Compassion, Samadhi |
Apr 06 1975 |
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Silent Wisdom in Zen Practice Practice, Compassion, Suzuki Roshi |
Apr 06 1975 |
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Journey to Spiritual Freedom in CommunitySerial: NC-01130 Retreat Conference by Abbot Edward McCorkle, OCSO, of Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville, Virginia. Prior Bruno Barnhart makes comments. OCSO, Abbot, Compassion, Patience, Anger, Breath |
Mar 1975 1 of 7 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Transcending Impermanence for Inner Freedom Birth-and-Death, Hate, Nirvana, Anger, Evil, Obstacles, Precepts, Happiness,... |
Dec 07 1972 |
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Lotus Journey: Transcending Birth and Death Birth-and-Death, Patience, Obstacles, Conversation, Beginners, Suffering, Breath,... |
Dec 06 1972 |
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Embracing the Moment's Dynamic Essence Birth-and-Death, Hate, Obstacles, Compassion, Repentance, Karma |
Dec 05 1972 |
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Birth and Death as Nirvana Birth-and-Death, Nirvana, Obstacles, Patience, difficulty, Attachment, Compassion,... |
Dec 01 1972 |
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Shikantaza: The Path to Enlightenment Attachment, Fasting, Consciousness, Bodhidharma, Funeral, Chanting, Posture, Breath,... |
Nov 12 1972 |
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Unfolding Reality: Embracing Dynamic Emptiness Compassion, Demons |
Feb 1972 |
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Nowness: Interconnectedness in Zen Practice Building, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, confusion, difficulty, Community, Compassion... |
Feb 1972 |
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The Essence of Tranquil Zen Practice Compassion, Realization, Rinzai, Samadhi, American |
Jan 26 1972 |
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Big Mind, Endless Compassion Journey Big Mind, Patience, Buddha Mind, Buddha Nature, Funeral, Compassion, Suffering... |
Dec 04 1971 |
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Zen Directness in Everyday Life Compassion, Emptiness, Practice |
Nov 08 1971 |
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Blossoming Enlightenment Through Transience Community, Compassion, Funeral, Emotions, Ceremony, Pain, Building |
Oct 22 1971 |
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Catching Space: Zen's Living Wisdom Breath, Compassion, Observe, Posture, Buddha Nature, Consciousness, Precepts, Silence... |
Apr 27 1971 |
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Living the Experience of Wisdom Breath, Perfect Wisdom, Building, Instruction, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Lay,... |
Apr 25 1971 |
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From Osaka Roots to Zen Wisdom Ceremony, Teacher-and-Student, Chanting, Transmission, American, Ordination,... |
Apr 11 1971 |
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Awakening Compassion Through Zen Vows Compassion, Delusion, Realization, Pain |
Dec 15 1970 |
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Compassion's Path: Bridging Illusion and Reality Attachment, Compassion, Hate, difficulty, Suffering, American, Building, Happiness,... |
Dec 13 1970 |
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Living the Bodhisattva Path Daily Vow, Bell, difficulty, Lay, Delusion, Compassion, Evil, Hate |
Dec 12 1970 |
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Roots of Zen: Unraveling Delusions Birth-and-Death, Vow, Silence, Fasting, Anger, Lay, Community, Delusion, Religion,... |
Sep 27 1970 |
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Swimming Freely in Compassion's Vastness Discrimination, Compassion, Meditation, Pain, Delusion |
Jul 05 1970 |
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Buddha Is Always HereSerial: SR-00051 Sandokai Lecture III [The following lines of the Sandokai are discussed in this lecture: Line 5 Reigen myoni kokettari... Branching Streams, Sandokai, Emptiness, Buddha Nature, Suffering, Truth, Compassion,... |
Jun 01 1970 Tassajara |
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Present Moment Zen: Life Force Unveiled Hate, Building, Happiness, Compassion |
Apr 11 1970 |
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Embodied Presence Beyond Understanding Meditation, Fox, Compassion |
Apr 05 1970 |