Mindful Compassion by Gilbert, Paul -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Contents Preface

Paul Choden

Acknowledgments

Paul Choden

Introduction

Training the Mind Our Multiple Selves Understanding the Mind The Self We Might Choose The Importance of Wisdom The Lotus in the Mud Key Points

Waking Up

The Four Noble Truths and Modern Psychology Emergence and Interconnectedness The Buddha’s Story and Us Key Points

Evolved Mind and Motivations

Understanding Our Origins—The Flow of Life The Evolutionary Journey The Consequences of Evolution for Mindful Compassion Old and New Brains The Problems with Humans Getting Smart How the Brain Coordinates Itself Motives Coordinate the Mind Minds Full of Conflicts The Affliction of Self-Identity The Shamed Self The Compassionate Self and Its Benefits Bringing Our Story Together Key Points

Emotional Systems

Problems with Emotions Emotional Regulation Systems Threat and Self-Protection System Why the Threat System Gives Us a Hard Time Drive and Resource-Seeking System The Soothing/Affiliation System All Want Love and to Be Loving Key Points

Emergence of Compassion

What Is Compassion? Healing: Definition of Compassion The Attributes of Compassion: Engagement Bringing the Attributes Together and the Emergence of Compassion Skills of Compassion: Alleviation and Prevention The Two Psychologies of Compassion: Bringing Them Together Key Points

The Challenge of Mindfulness Practice

The Role of Mindfulness Problems That Can Arise with Mindfulness Mindfulness and Motives Key Points

The Lotus in the Mud

Understanding How Compassion Can Be Undermined Compromised Soothing/Affiliation System Misunderstandings About the Nature of Compassion Fears of and Resistances to Compassion Fear of Happiness Emotional Memory Affiliation and Emotional Memory Affiliation and Emotional Fusion Affiliation and Anger Affiliation and Slowing Down—in the Culture of Speeding Up Psychology of Avoidance The Story of Chenrezig Compassion as Ascent to the Angelic? Compassion as “Cleansing and Purifying” Inner Poisons The Real Story of Compassion—Descent Descent: Choden’s Personal Journey Descent and the Emergence of Compassion: The Beginning of New Life Compassion and the Flow of Life Key Points Introduction: Compassionate Motivation Outline of Practice Chapters

Mindfulness Practice

Recognizing the Unsettled Mind Beginning to Work with Attention Slowing Down and Settling Opening Up to Our Senses Single-Focus Attention and Open-Field Awareness Grounding in the Body Body Scan Body Awareness and Compassion Sitting Practice Little and Often Conclusion Key Stages

Working with Acceptance

Habitual Reactions Familiarization and Cultivation Intention, Attention, and Acceptance Experiential Acceptance Two Psychologies of Compassion How Do We Practice Acceptance? Cultivating the Observer Key Points

Building Compassionate Capacity

Compassion as Flow Working with Imagery No Clear Pictures Safe Place Compassionate Color Compassionate Image Recognizing Our Wish for Happiness Key Points

The Compassionate Self

Cultivating Helpful Patterns Imagining Our Compassionate Self Method-Acting Techniques The Qualities of Our Compassionate Self Remembering Our Compassionate Self Doing the Work of Compassion Focusing Our Compassionate Self: Compassion for a Loved One Focusing Our Compassionate Self: Compassion for Oneself Self-Compassion Break Working with the Anxious Self Working with the Angry Self Working with the Critical Self Compassionate Behavior Key Points

Widening Our Circle of Compassion

Four Limitless Contemplations Practicing Compassion for Others Dissolving and Equalizing “On the Spot” Self-Preoccupation Tonglen: Taking and Sending Practicing Tonglen Tonglen on the Spot Conclusion Key Points

Conclusion: The Compassionate Journey Find Out More

Books CDs Websites

Notes

Introduction 1. Waking Up 2. Evolved Mind and Motivations 3. Emotional Systems 4. Emergence of Compassion 5. The Challenge of Mindfulness Practice 6. The Lotus in the Mud 7. Mindfulness Practice 8. Working with Acceptance 9. Building Compassionate Capacity 10. The Compassionate Self 11. Widening Our Circle of Compassion