Compassion Camp: 8 Weeks to learn how to Cultivate Compassion

by Renée Bochman

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Date and Time

Mon, Mar 26, 2018, 6:30 PM –

Tue, May 22, 2018, 8:30 PM EDT

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Location

Old City Hall

45 School St

2nd Floor

Boston, MA 02108

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Description

Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) is an eight-week program designed to develop the qualities of compassion, empathy, and kindness for oneself and for others. The program was developed at Stanford University by a team of contemplative scholars, clinical psychologists, and researchers.

Dates for this class are:

March 26th
April 2nd
April 9th
April 16th
April 23rd
April 30th
May 14th
May 22nd (Yes, this is a Tuesday)

The process of cultivating compassion involves training our own minds, developing specific skills in how we relate to others, and ourselves and intentionally choosing compassionate thoughts and actions. In CCT, the training process includes:

Daily meditation practices to develop lovingkindness, empathy, and compassion
A two-hour weekly class that includes lecture, discussion, and in-class partner and small-group listening and communication exercises
Real-world “homework” assignments to practice compassionate thoughts and actions

In this program, you will learn . . .

Increase kindness and compassion for yourself and others
Develop profound levels of serenity, resilience, and creativity
Calm your mind and direct thoughts more positively
Access a variety of self-care skills and techniques

Cultivating compassion goes beyond feeling more empathy and concern for others. It develops the strength to be with suffering, the courage to take compassionate action, and the resilience to prevent compassion fatigue. These qualities support a wide range of goals, from improving personal relationships to making a positive difference in the world.

Compassion cultivation can also support one’s own health, happiness, and well-being. Preliminary research suggests that CCT and similar programs can increase self-compassion and self-care, reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and enhance connection with others.