Now that you’ve had a taste of self-compassion, the following resources can assist you in deepening your practice. Study is an important component of practice insofar as good ideas can inspire you and help you avoid unnecessary confusion. The books listed below explore compassion and mindfulness from a variety of angles, especially the intersection of modern psychology, Buddhist psychology, and psychotherapy. Many of the following materials don’t focus explicitly on self-compassion, but they contain the spirit of the practice. Use them as an opportunity to experiment on your own. Some books below are written for a general audience and others are oriented more for mental health professionals, so please check online for reviews of books that may interest you.
There’s no substitute for practicing under the guidance of a qualified teacher. Since many practitioners don’t have access to teachers, audiovisual materials can be a valuable aid to practice. Some guided meditation tapes are listed below, as well as websites where information and other resources can be found.
Retreats are also an important part of deeper practice. Meditation training centers from the insight meditation (metta), Tibetan Buddhist (tonglen), and Zen (compassionate awareness) traditions are listed below.
Brach, T. (2003). Radical acceptance: Embracing your life with the heart of a Buddha. New York: Bantam Dell.
Brown, B. (2010). The gifts of imperfection: Let go of who you think you are supposed to be and embrace who you are. Center City, MN: Hazeldon.
Chödrön, P. (1997). When things fall apart: Heart advice for difficult times. Boston: Shambhala.
Dalai Lama (2001). An open heart: Practicing compassion in everyday life. New York: Little, Brown.
Feldman, C. (2005). Compassion: Listening to the cries of the world. Berkeley, CA: Rodmell Press.
Flowers, S., & Stahl, B. (2011). Living with your heart wide open: How mindfulness and compassion can free you from unworthiness, inadequacy, and shame. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
Fredrickson, B. (2013). Love 2.0: Finding happiness and health in moments of connection. New York: Plume.
Gilbert, P. (2009). The compassionate mind: A new approach to life’s challenges. London: Constable & Robinson.
Gilbert, P., & Choden, (2014). Mindful compassion: How the science of compassion can help you understand your emotions, live in the present, and connect deeply with others. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications
Goleman, D. (Ed.). (2003). Healing emotions: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on mindfulness, emotions, and health. Boston: Shambhala.
Hanh, T. N. (1998). Teachings on love. Berkeley, CA: Parallax Press.
Kolts, R., & Chodron, T. (2013). Living with an open heart: How to cultivate compassion in everyday life. London: Robinson Publishing.
Kornfield, J. (2009). The wise heart: A guide to the universal teachings of Buddhist psychology. New York: Bantam Books.
Makransky, J. (2007). Awakening through love: Unveiling your deepest goodness. Somerville, MA: Wisdom.
Neff, K. (2011). Self-compassion: The proven power of being kind to yourself. New York: William Morrow.
Salzberg, S. (1995). Lovingkindness: The revolutionary art of happiness. Boston: Shambhala.
Singer, T., & Bolz, M. (Eds.). (2013). Compassion: Bridging practice and science. Leipzig, Germany: Max-Planck Institute. Free ebook available at http://www.compassion-training.org/.
Baer, R. (2014). Practising happiness: How mindfulness can free you from psychological traps and help you build the life you want. London: Robinson.
Brach, T. (2013). True refuge: Finding peace and freedom in your own awakened heart. New York: Bantam Books.
Goldstein, J. (2013). Mindfulness: A practical guide to awakening. Louisville, CO: Sounds True.
Goldstein, J., & Kornfield, J. (1987). Seeking the heart of wisdom: The path of insight meditation. Boston: Shambhala.
Graham, L. (2013). Bouncing back: Rewiring your brain for maximum resilience and well-being. Novato, CA: New World Library.
Gunaratana, B. (2002). Mindfulness in plain English. Somerville, MA: Wisdom.
Hanh, T. N. (1976). The miracle of mindfulness. Boston: Beacon Press.
Hanson, R. (2009). The Buddha’s brain: The practical neuroscience of happiness, love, and wisdom. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Press.
Hanson, R. (2013). Hardwiring happiness: The new brain science of contentment, calm, and confidence. Easton, PA: Harmony Press.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness. New York: Dell.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2011). Mindfulness for beginners: Reclaiming the present moment—and your life. Louisville, CO: Sounds True.
Kornfield, J. (2008). The wise heart: A guide to the universal teachings of Buddhist psychology. New York: Bantam Dell.
Magid, B. (2008). Ending the pursuit of happiness: A Zen guide. Somerville, MA: Wisdom.
Moffitt, P. (2008). Dancing with life: Buddhist insights for finding meaning and joy in the face of suffering. New York: Rodale Books.
Olendzki, A. (2010). Unlimiting mind: The radically experiential psychology of Buddhism. Somerville, MA: Wisdom Publications.
Salzberg, S. (2010). Real happiness: The power of meditation: A 28-day program. New York: Workman Publishing Company.
Stahl, B., & Goldstein, E. (2010). A mindfulness-based stress reduction workbook. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
Teasdale, J., Williams, M., & Segal, Z. (2014). The mindful way workbook: An 8-week program to free yourself from depression and emotional distress. New York: Guilford Press.
Tolle, E. (1999). The power of now. Novato, CA: New World Library.
Willard, C. (2010). The child’s mind: Mindfulness practices to help our children be more focused, calm, and relaxed. Berkeley, CA: Parallax Press.
Brown, B. (1999). Soul without shame: A guide to liberating yourself from the judge within. Boston: Shambhala.
Geller, S., & Greenberg, L. (2011). Therapeutic presence: A mindful approach to affective therapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Press.
Germer, C., & Siegel, R. (Eds.). (2012). Wisdom and compassion in psychotherapy: Deepening mindfulness in clinical practice. New York: Guilford Press.
Germer, C., Siegel, R., & Fulton, P. (Eds.). (2013). Mindfulness and psychotherapy, second edition. New York: Guilford Press.
Gilbert, P. (2010). Compassion focused therapy: Distinctive features. London: Routledge.
Hayes, S., & Smith, S. (2005). Get out of your mind and into your life: The new acceptance and commitment therapy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Hayes, S., Strosahl, K., & Wilson, K. (2011). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change, second edition. New York: Guilford Press.
Harris, R., & Hayes, S. (2009). ACT made simple: An easy-to-read primer on acceptance and commitment therapy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
Kolts, R. (2013). The compassionate-mind guide to managing your anger: Using compassion-focused therapy to calm your rage and heal your relationships. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Press.
Ladner, L. (2004). The lost art of compassion: Discovering the practice of happiness in the meeting of Buddhism and psychology. New York: HarperCollins.
Orsillo, S., & Roemer, L. (2011). The mindful way through anxiety: Break free from chronic worry and reclaim your life. New York: Guilford Press.
Pollak, S., Pedulla, T., & Siegel, R. (2014). Sitting together: Essential skills for mindfulness-based psychotherapy. New York: Guilford Press.
Segal, Z., Williams, M., & Teasdale, J. (2012). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression, second edition. New York: Guilford Press.
Siegel, D. (2010). Mindsight: The new science of personal transformation. New York: Bantam Books.
Siegel, R. (2009). The mindfulness solution: Everyday practices for everyday problems. New York: Guilford Press.
Tirch, D. (2012). The compassionate-mind guide to overcoming anxiety: Using compassion focused therapy to calm worry, panic, and fear. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Press.
Williams, M., Teasdale, J., & Segal, Z. (2007). The mindful way through depression: Freeing yourself from chronic unhappiness. New York: Guilford Press.
Welford, M. (2013). The power of self-compassion: Using compassion-focused therapy to end self-criticism and build self-confidence. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Press.
Author information and guided self-compassion meditations: www.MindfulSelfCompassion.org.
Online group on loving-kindness: groups.yahoo.com/group/giftoflovingkindness
Self-compassion research: www.self-compassion.org
Science of meditation and compassion: www.mindandlife.org
Teachers:
Tara Brach: www.imcw.org/tara-brach
Pema Chödrön: www.shambhala.org/teachers/pema/
Dalai Lama: www.dalailama.com
Jon Kabat-Zinn : www.umassmed.edu/cfm/index.aspx
Jack Kornfield: www.jackkornfield.org
Lama Surya Das: www.dzogchen.org
Sharon Salzberg: www.sharonsalzberg.com
Thich Nhat Hanh: www.iamhome.org, www.plumvillage.org
Buddhist practice journals: www.tricycle.com, www.thebuddhadharma.com, www.shambhalasun.com
Mindfulness-based stress reduction: www.umassmed.edu/cfm Mindfulness and psychotherapy: www.meditationandpsychotherapy.org
Audiovisual materials of all kinds: www.soundstrue.com
Recommended guided meditation from Sounds True:
Tara Brach (2014). Developing Self-Compassion.
Tara Brach (2005). Radical Self-Acceptance: A Buddhist Guide to Freeing Yourself from Shame.
Tara Brach (2009). Meditations for Emotional Healing: Finding Freedom in the Face of Difficulty.
Jack Kornfield (2011). Guided Meditations for Self-Healing: Essential Practices to Relieve Physical and Emotional Suffering and Enhance Recovery.
Jack Kornfield (2014). The Healing Power of Love.
Jon Kabat-Zinn (2006). Mindfulness for Beginners: Explore the Infinite Potential that Lies Within This Very Moment.
Joseph Goldstein (2013). Mindfulness: Six Guided Practices for Awakening. Essential mindfulness meditations complement the teachings in the book of the same title.
Kristin Neff (2013). Self-Compassion Step by Step: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself.
Pema Chödrön (2012). Awakening Love: Teachings and Practices to Cultivate a Limitless Heart. Pema Chödrön shows us how to shed our emotional armor and open ourselves to limitless love.
Rick Hanson (2012). The Compassionate Brain: Activating the Neural Circuits of Kindness, Caring, and Love.
Sharon Salzberg (2004). Lovingkindness Meditation: Learning to Love Through Insight Meditation.
Sharon Salzberg (2009). Guided Meditations for Love and Wisdom.
Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein (2011). Insight Meditation: An In-Depth Course on How to Meditate.
Talks from insight meditation retreats (free downloads): www.dharmaseed.org
Guided mindfulness meditation CDs by Jon Kabat-Zinn: www.mindfulnesscds.com
Guided meditation and teaching by Pema Chödrön: www.pemachodrontapes.org
Depending on the teacher, self-compassion is integrated into meditation training to varying degrees. Before you take instruction or go on a retreat, please research your teacher very carefully to determine whether his or her teaching style is compatible with your needs.
To start your search for meditation centers and communities in your area, go to dharma.org/ims/mr_links.html.
For a broad listing of Buddhist meditation centers around the world, go to www.buddhanet.info/wbd/.
The following meditation centers are likely to have teaching and meditation programs that are compatible with the material presented in this book:
Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health, and Society
55 Lake Avenue North
Worcester, MA 01655
www.umassmed.edu/cfm
Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
149 Lockwood Road
Barre, MA 01005
www.dharma.org/bcbs
Bhavana Society
97 Meditation Trail
High View, WV 26808
www.bhavanasociety.org
Cambridge Insight Meditation Center
331 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02139
www.cimc.info
InsightLA
2633 Lincoln Blvd, #206
Santa Monica, CA 90405-2005
www.insightla.org
Insight Meditation Community of Washington, D.C.
P.O. Box 212
Garrett Park, MD 20896
www.imcw.org
Insight Meditation Society
1230 Pleasant Street
Barre, MA 01005
www.dharma.org/ims
Metta Forest Monastery
13560 Muutama Ln
Valley Center, CA 92082
www.watmetta.org
Mid-America Dharma
455 East 80th Terrace
Kansas City, MO 64131
www.midamericadharma.org
New York Insight Meditation Center
28 West 27th Street, 10th floor
New York, NY 10001
www.nyimc.org
Spirit Rock Meditation Center
P.O. Box 909
Woodacre, CA 94973
www.spiritrock.org
Blue Cliff Monastery
3 Mindfulness Road
Pine Bush, NY 12566
www.bluecliffmonastery.org
Boundless Way Zen
Greater Boston Zen Center
288 Norfolk St.
Cambridge, MA 02139
www.boundlesswayzen.org
Deer Park Monastery
2499 Melru Lane
Escondido, CA 92026
www.deerparkmonastery.org
Upaya Zen Center
1404 Cerro Gordo Road
Santa Fe, NM 87501
www.upaya.org
Village Zendo
588 Broadway, Suite 1108
New York, NY 10012–5238
villagezendo.org
Zen Center of San Diego
2047 Feldspar Street
San Diego, CA 92109–3551
www.zencentersandiego.org
Dzogchen Foundation
For teaching and retreat schedule, go to www.dzogchen.org.
Naropa University
2130 Arapahoe Avenue
Boulder, CO 80302
www.naropa.edu
Shambhala Mountain Center
151 Shambala Way
Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545
www.shambhala.org
Tenzin Gyatso Institute for Wisdom and Compassion
P.O. Box 239
Berne, NY 12023
www.tenzingyatsoinstitute.org
Gampo Abbey
Pleasant Bay
Cape Breton, NS BOE 2PO
Canada
www.gampoabbey.org
For other Canadian meditation centers, go to www.gosit.org.
Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice
School of Psychology
Dean Street Building
Bangor University
Bangor LL57 1UT
UK
www.bangorac.uk/mindfulness
Gaia House
West Ogwell, Newton Abbot
Devon TQ12 6EN
UK
www.gaiahouse.co.uk
Kalyana Centre
Eva Bruha
40 John Street Dingle
County Kerry
Ireland
www.kalyanacentre.com/contact.html
Meditationszentrum Beatenberg
Waldegg
Beatenberg CH-3803
Switzerland
www.karuna.ch
Seminarhaus Engl
Engl 1
Unterdietfurt 84339
Bavaria
Germany
www.seminarhaus-engl.de
For other European centers, go to www.mahasi.eu/mahasi/index.jsp.
Plum Village Practice Center
13 Martineau
Dieulivol 33580
France
www.plumvillage.org
Shambhala Europe
Kartäuserwall 20
Köln 50678
Germany
shambhala-europe.org
For Shambhala centers worldwide, go to www.shambhala.org/centers.
Sanctuary of Enlightened Action
Lerab Ling
L’Engayresque
34650 Roquerdonde
France
www.rigpa.org/Lerab_Ling.html
Bodhinyanarama Monastery
17 Rakau Grove, Stokes Valley
Lower Hutt 5019
New Zealand
www.bodhinyanarama.net.nz/
Santi Forest Monastery
100 Coalmines Road
Bundanoon
New South Wales 2578
Australia
santifm1.0.googlepages.com
For other Australian insight meditation centers, go to www.dharma.org.au.
For other New Zealand insight meditation centers, go to www.insightmeditation.org.nz/wiki.
For Zen centers in Australia, go to iriz.hanazono.ac.jp/zen_centers/centers_data/australi.htm.
For Zen centers in New Zealand, go to iriz.hanazono.ac.jp/zen_centers/centers_data/newzeal.htm.
Shambhala Meditation Centre Auckland
Greg Lynn Community Centre
510 Richmond Road
Grey Lynn Auckland
New Zealand
www.aucklandshambhala.org.nz