Service Description

What is compassion? Compassion can be defined as “being sensitive to the suffering of self and others with a deep commitment to try to prevent and relieve it”. According to the Evolutionary Model of Paul Gilbert and the neuroscience research he draws on, the potential for compassion is part of our mammalian heritage and is wired into our brains through the soothing/affiliation system. However, our compassion can become blocked, so in order for it to be an ongoing part of our lives we need to actively train it. Scientific research has shown that compassion practice can: Reduce in stress, anxiety & depression Boost our sense of well-being Help us feel more connected Improve our self-esteem Reduce burn-out What is the Compassion Based Living Course (CBLC)? The CBLC is an eight-week course aimed at helping you to develop an in-depth personal experience of Compassion and to build the foundations of a sustained personal practice, with a view to applying this in your life and perhaps also in your professional work. The course was developed by the Mindfulness Association as a follow on from the Mindfulness Based Living course and draws on insights and practices from neuroscience, evolutionary psychology and Mahayana Buddhism. It was inspired by the work of Paul Gilbert, Christopher Germer and Kristin Neff. This experiential course starts with building self-compassion into basic mindfulness practice, cultivating positive emotions as a way of building up an inner resource, from which we can approach the difficulties of being alive. Exploring practices which generate love and friendliness, we move from self-compassion towards compassion for others, learning how to respond appropriately to suffering while also appreciating the good things in our lives. The course includes 8 weekly 2hr sessions and an optional retreat day and includes explanation, guided practice, group reflection and inquiry. The sessions are interactive with a strong emphasis on experiential learning. What is covered in the course? Week 1 – Why practice Compassion? Week 2 – The Compassionate Mess Week 3 – It is not our fault: An evolutionary perspective Week 4 – Creating Conditions of Safeness Week 5 – Befriending the Self-Critic Week 6 – Finding the Compassionate Friend Within Week 7 – The Four Immeasurable Qualities Week 8 – Compassion for others - Tonglen There will also be a FREE optional retreat day between weeks 6 & 7

Contact Details

• 257 Harlestone Road, Northampton, England NN5 6DD, GBR

  07949248892

  info@deeperbeing.com