About Compassion Cultivation Training
What is Compassion Cultivation Training ?
Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT™) is an eight-week program designed to develop the qualities of compassion, empathy, and kindness for oneself and for others. CCT™ integrates traditional contemplative practices with contemporary psychology and scientific research on compassion. The secular program was developed at Stanford University by a team of contemplative scholars, clinical psychologists, and researchers.
This course probes real-world questions such as: What is compassion? What blocks it? How do we limit compassion and decide who’s more deserving? Is there a difference between empathy and compassion? What makes self-compassion so difficult? How can I stay present and compassionate in a complex world?
Compassion
Compassion is a process that unfolds in response to suffering. It begins with the recognition of suffering, which gives rise to thoughts and feelings of empathy and concern. This, in turn, motivates action to relieve that suffering.
Cultivation
Humans have a natural capacity for compassion. However, everyday stress, social pressures, and life experiences can make it difficult to fully express this capacity. The collective trauma ~ polycrisis ~ is very relevant in our world at this time. In addition to our daily stressors, we are noticing how events in the larger world such as politics, wars, and climate crises are deeply impacting us, to name a few. Each of us can choose to nurture and grow the compassionate instinct, like a plant that is carefully cultivated from a seed. This process requires patience, steady care, proper tools, and a supportive environment.
Training
The process of cultivating compassion involves training our 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 2-hour weekly class that includes lecture, discussion, experiential exercises, and dyads
Real-world “homework” assignments to practice compassionate thoughts and actions to help embody compassion into your daily life.
Resources to learn about research related to each week’s topic
Access to recorded guided meditations related to each week’s topic
Why
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 empathetic distress (AKA “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 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.
Who
CCT™ is designed to support anyone who wants to cultivate compassion for themselves and others. This includes parents, caregivers, educators, healthcare professionals, therapists, executives, public servants, and people in a wide range of professions and life contexts. No previous meditation experience is required.
COURSE OVERVIEW:
Week 1: Settling and focusing the mind
Week 2: Loving kindness and compassion for a loved one
Week 3: Compassion for yourself
Week 4: Loving-kindness for yourself
Week 5: Embracing shared common humanity and developing an appreciation for others
Week 6: Cultivating compassion for others
Week 7: Active compassion practice
Week 8: Integrated daily compassion cultivation practice
FOR CURRENT CLASS INFORMATION CLICK HERE