Would you like to be more compassionate, empathic, or kind?
Well, scientific researchers are discovering that compassion or kindness meditation practiced by Tibetan Buddhist monks can alter peoples responses to be more compassionate. They measured participants brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
There still may be hope for some of us!!
Brain Blogger: Topics from Multidimensional BioPsychoSocial Perspectives had an article entitled, “Meditate to Learn Compassion” by Jennifer Gibson, PharmD. The following is an excerpt from the article:
The researchers concluded that the brain can, therefore, be trained to exhibit more powerful responses to empathy. People can learn to regulate thoughts and emotions and promote happiness and compassion through practicing compassion meditation regularly. Techniques for compassion meditation include concentration exercises that train attention, behavioral training such as practicing generosity, and cognitive strategies of self-reflection and visualizing the suffering of others. The long-term goal for practitioners of compassion meditation is to decrease egocentric traits, allowing altruistic behaviors to arise more frequently.
Scientists hope that these techniques may be useful for teaching compassion to children and adolescents and decreasing bullying and violence, as well as helping people prone to depression learn compassion for themselves. The researchers are planning a study to examine brain changes over a longer period of time of people who practice compassion meditation.
Meditation practices impact physiological pathways that regulate stress and disease-causing processes. Much attention is focused on meditation to improve attention, develop mindfulness, and calm the mind. However, there is now evidence that physiological processes are activated in meditation focused on cultivating compassion. An additional study found that engaging in compassion meditation might reduce stress-induced immune and behavioral responses.
For more information on what compassion meditation is go to the following links: Healing with Awareness and Science Daily.
The research is at the beginning stages and previous research has shown that any type of meditation or prayer has a positive effect on the brain, but they had not previously studied this area. To me, it has fascinating implications. More empathy, compassion and kindness would sure make the global garden beautiful with vibrant, healthy, colorful flowers.
Would you be willing to practice this type of meditation or other forms of meditation or prayer to achieve this in your life? Why or why not?
What can you do in the Garden to help it grow flowers of empathy, compassion and kindness?
All comments are compassionately welcomed!!
Compassion eh – we all need that!
Reading a book about the power of thought and the effect it has on water molecules…..basically pure thoughts = pure water structure (the labelled a bottle with LOVE on it and meditated) same with hate – all distorted!!….
Compassion all round but never forget the humour
Our thoughts, pretty, pretty powerful! OHM.
Do you view compassion has not including humour? For me, compassion goes hand in hand with humour…timed properly. I can help someone to sob and then at the right time have them laughing.
I guees so – my conditioning means ‘compassion’ relates to a sad sympathy with a caring gloss…..that’s my definition and your post has opened the word up to include humour / humor so thanks…..
always leave them laughing – that’s what i say.
Any sort of meditation is always a good thing. Generally, it makes most people feel more relaxed, more centered, less stressed. So, no surprises it helps people feel more compassionate towards others!
I practice a number of different kinds of meditation, and they’re all useful.
In terms of compassion, you’ll be glad to hear that in Australia, most people seem to be pulling together to help those who’ve lost their homes and/or families in the Victorian bushfires (some are still burning). So many Aussies have put their hands deep in their pockets to help others. The images of the fires have been terrible, but everyone being so caring to others has brought tears to my eyes more than once.
Compassion has to start with the self, and flow outwards. That’s the best kind, anyway.
I agree to a point that it has to start with yourself. I am able to have more compassion toward others than I do myself. Working on it though. Yes, it is contagious. It makes people feel better all around.
Meditation, prayer ?
Pahhhh, just another excuse for someone to be a lazy bugger and sit around on their arse all day.
I some of them every day in Thailand, either sitting around doing nothing or shaving their heads, orange clad layabouts.
Sorry about the delay Gareth I had to think depp and hard about a lazy song
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6x8GGXrCFQ
GIT,
That is a misconception of what typical people do for meditation. It is quite a discipline that is great for the whole body and can be for anyone. Have you tried it with a professional leading you? If you haven’t then you do not have a basis for judgement. There are other scientific studies to prove the benefits of meditation.
CC
I have and do meditate on a regular basis. Admitably not as often as I use to, but still get in there..
It is amazing how your brain can sort through lifes little and big problems with great claritywhen you bloke out the rest of the world even for a few minutes…
and then there are other bonus’s which go with it, relaxation, calmness, health, de-stress and many more…
nice post CC..
Welcome back…
AC,
Thanks! Welcome back to you too. Where did you visit in the US?
CC
I didnt go to the US of A perhaps next time..
Went and visit my kids on the mainland of OZ…
Besides I wouldnt go to the US with out looking you up…
Hello CC!
Glad to see you posting on here once again
As for me, I have just spend the last week on a Yoga / Meditation course with Isha Yoga, with the guidance of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev.
You can learn more about Isha at http://www.innerengineering.org/
And you can hear Sadhguru share about what we need to make the world a more compassionate place:-
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFRegtmXMLk
Where was the course Arvind?
I absolutely would practice this type of meditation. I completely agree with this perspective and how it helps a person to be more responsive rather than reactive — I have applied this in my own life — just not often enough. Those wee voices inside my head have been reminding me a lot lately to practice compassion, and I’ve been “wanting” to begin meditation and yoga again. I fell off the wagon a couple of years ago and miss it. Thank you for this inspiring post. It’s just what I need to hear today.