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Compassion Talks

Compassion is a social emotion that motivates people to go out of their way to relieve the physical, mental, or emotional pains of others and themselves. Compassion is sensitivity to the emotional aspects of the suffering of others. When based on notions such as fairness, justice, and interdependence, it may be considered partially rational in nature.

Compassion involves "feeling for another" and is a precursor to empathy, the "feeling as another" capacity (as opposed to sympathy, the "feeling towards another"). In common parlance, active compassion is the desire to alleviate another's suffering.

Compassion involves allowing oneself to be moved by suffering to help alleviate and prevent it. An act of compassion is one that is intended to be helpful. Other virtues that harmonize with compassion include patience, wisdom, kindness, perseverance, warmth, and resolve. It is often, though not inevitably, the key component in altruism. The difference between sympathy and compassion is that the former responds to others' suffering with sorrow and concern whereas the latter responds with warmth and care. An article in Clinical Psychology Review suggests that "compassion consists of three facets: noticing, feeling, and responding".

In Buddhism, compassion is the heartfelt wish to relieve the suffering of all beings, paired with the courage to act. Compassionate actions plant seeds of joy in others—and in ourselves—making them a true source of lasting happiness.

From compassion on Wikipedia

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Title	Speaker	Date
Taste The Truth Shundo David Haye reflects on the role and value of practice in imbuing us with inner integrity, in this age of social media and AI. Study, Compassion, Suzuki Roshi	Shundo David Haye	Jul 01 2026 City Center
Held in the Vastness So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson uses somatic meditation, the image of the hand, and Zen teachings on non-separation, to explore how we move from contraction and self-protection toward a more open... Compassion	So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson	May 17 2026 Green Gulch Farm
Two Zen Stories: Sanctuary and Compassion Serial: SF-08155 05/24/2025, Monitsu Pamela Weiss, dharma talk at City Center. Monitsu Pamela Weiss explores the twin themes of refuge and compassion in Cases 4 and 54 of the Book of Serenity... Compassion	Monitsu Pamela Weiss	May 24 2025 City Center
The Perfection of Giving Serial: SF-08231 04/30/2025, Gengyoko Tim Wicks , dharma talk at City Center. Gengyoko Tim Wicks speaks about the cultivation of dana paramita (giving) in our zazen practice and Eihei... Compassion, Suffering, Sangha	Gengyoko Tim Wicks	Apr 30 2025 City Center
Wisdom Stories of Tibet Serial: SF-08140 04/12/2025, Ryuko Laura Burges, dharma talk at City Center. Ryuko Laura Burges, a lay entrusted teacher, talks about the timeless power of story and shares her recent... Wisdom, Compassion	Ryuko Laura Burges	Apr 12 2025 City Center
Wisdom Stories of Tibet Serial: SF-08206 04/12/2025, Ryuko Laura Burges, dharma talk at City Center. Ryuko Laura Burges, a lay entrusted teacher, talks about the timeless power of story and shares her recent... Wisdom, Compassion	Ryuko Laura Burges	Apr 12 2025 City Center
Black History Month Serial: SF-08123 02/01/2025, Sozan Michael McCord, dharma talk at City Center. Sozan Michael McCord uses the lens of "The Harmony of Difference and Equality" by Shitou Xiqian, to unpack... Compassion, Suzuki Roshi	Sozan Michael McCord	Feb 01 2025 City Center
Way-Seeking Mind: Responding to the Cries of the World with Skillful Compassion Serial: SF-08105 01/11/2025, Keiryu Liên Shutt, dharma talk at City Center. Keiryu Liên Shutt discusses how the hands and eyes of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, need to be... Bodhisattva, Compassion	Keiryu Liên Shutt	Jan 11 2025 City Center
Deep Listening Serial: SF-08367 07/31/2024, Jisan Tova Green, dharma talk at City Center. This talk was given at Beginner's Mind Temple, by Tova Green. Tova explores deep listening on the personal,... Compassion, Community	Jisan Tova Green	Jul 31 2024 City Center
Listening Through the Heart's Echo Serial: SF-08677 Talk by Jisan Tova Green at City Center on 2024-07-31 Compassion, Bodhisattva	Jisan Tova Green	Jul 31 2024 City Center
Not Doing Group Harm Serial: SF-08273 07/28/2024, Shosan Victoria Austin, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Studying Zen precepts, our tradition transmits a wealth of teachings to help us stop harming at... Compassion	Shosan Victoria Austin	Jul 28 2024 Green Gulch Farm
Grandmotherly Kindness: Models for Practice Serial: SF-08424 06/29/2024, Shosan Victoria Austin, dharma talk at City Center. This talk was given by Shosan Victoria Austin at one of Beginner’s Mind Temple’s pop-up events at Unity... Suffering, Compassion	Shosan Victoria Austin	Jun 29 2024 City Center
Our Own True Home—Dedicated to Caroline Meister Serial: SF-08274 03/24/2024, Eijun Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. This talk by Eijun Linda Cutts was offered and dedicated to Caroline Meister, a Tassajara resident whose... Precepts, Compassion	Eijun Linda Cutts	Mar 24 2024 Green Gulch Farm
Embracing Life's Impermanent Compassion Serial: SF-08377 Talk by Eijun Linda Ruth Cutts at Green Gulch Farm on 2024-03-24 Precepts, Compassion	Eijun Linda Cutts	Mar 24 2024 Green Gulch Farm
Embracing Life's Fleeting Moments Serial: SF-08397 Talk by Eijun Linda Ruth Cutts on 2024-03-24 Precepts, Compassion	Eijun Linda Cutts	Mar 24 2024
Embracing Imperfection in Zen Practice Serial: SF-09494 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Zen Mind Beginners Mind Gui Spina on 2024-03-17 Suzuki Roshi, Compassion	Fu Schroeder	Mar 17 2024
Wholehearted Living Through Zen Practice Serial: SF-09742 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2024-03-17 Suzuki Roshi, Compassion	Fu Schroeder	Mar 17 2024
Practice Compassion Without Delay Serial: SF-08415 02/04/2024, Eijun Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Avalokiteshvara in the Avatamsaka Sutra lets us know of the powerful practice of Great Compassion to meet the... Compassion, Bodhisattva	Eijun Linda Cutts	Feb 04 2024 Green Gulch Farm
Communion of Human Agency and Great Compassion Serial: SF-07795 11/06/2022, Tenshin Reb Anderson, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. An exploration of compassion for self and others. Compassion, Consciousness	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Nov 06 2022 Green Gulch Farm
Compassion and Great Compassion Serial: SF-07845 10/30/2022, Kokyo Henkel, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Different types compassion as taught by Shakyamuni Buddha, Vasubandhu, Maitreya, Chandrakirti, and Zen... Compassion, Suffering, Bodhisattva	Kokyo Henkel	Oct 30 2022 Green Gulch Farm
Homage to Great Compassion Serial: SF-08059 10/16/2022, Tenshin Reb Anderson, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Paying homage, praising, and making offerings to great compassion with all our actions of body, speech, and... Compassion	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Oct 16 2022 Green Gulch Farm
It's for Your Benefit, Acarya Serial: SF-10905 Continuing with our focus this month on the Mind Only teachings, this talk offers a walk-through of some of the school's major components…among them, compassion, generosity and... Suffering, Compassion	Fu Schroeder	Aug 15 2021 Green Gulch Farm
Vimalakirti and Suzuki-Roshi Teach the Dharma of Freedom from Dualism Serial: SF-10906 In this time of worldwide sickness, the teaching of Vimalakirti—the bodhisattva who manifests illness for the sake of teaching sentient beings— is brought up. Linda also offers... Suzuki Roshi, Compassion	Eijun Linda Cutts	Aug 01 2021 Green Gulch Farm
Buddhist Teacher on Death Row Serial: SF-11131 Jarvis Masters joins Lee Lesser on the dharma seat to speak from death row in San Quentin Prison about his Buddhist Practice of 30 years; his understanding of the nature of... Compassion	Lee Klinger Lesser, Jarvis Masters	Jun 19 2021 City Center
Falling into the Well Serial: SF-10915 The well of the ego and breaking through karma. Intergenerational trauma and suffering. What are we passing down? 03/24/2021, Chikudo Catherine Spaeth, dharma talk at... Compassion	Chikudo Catherine Spaeth	Mar 25 2021 City Center
A Description of Buddha’s Mind Serial: SF-10923 Eijun Roshi offers a description of Buddha's mind: a tender heart toward all sentient beings as if they were babies 02/07/2021, Eijun Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Green... Compassion	Eijun Linda Cutts	Feb 07 2021 Green Gulch Farm
A Description of Buddha’s Mind Serial: SF-11027 Eijun Roshi offers a description of Buddha's mind: a tender heart toward all sentient beings as if they were babies. 07/02/2021, Eijun Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Green Gulch... Compassion	Eijun Linda Cutts	Feb 07 2021 Green Gulch Farm
Universal Gateway of Avalokiteshvara Serial: SF-11061 An entry into Chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra for our time, dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 01/17/2021, Eijun Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. ... Compassion, Bodhisattva	Eijun Linda Cutts	Jan 17 2021 Green Gulch Farm
Zen Resilience in Crisis Times Serial: SF-11356 Talk by Mushim Ikeda at City Center on 2020-11-22 Compassion	Mushim Ikeda	Nov 22 2020 City Center
Compassionate Presencing (video) Serial: SF-11328 Avalokiteshvara Boddhisattva and resting in don't know mind. 11/04/2020, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center. Compassion, Suffering, Bodhisattva	Tenzen David Zimmerman	Nov 04 2020 City Center
Warm Heart Zazen (video) Serial: SF-11237 Suzuki Roshi’s teaching on warm-hearted zazen practice is the coming together of wisdom and compassion, and can be illuminated by Dr. King’s teaching on the three kinds of love... Zazen, Compassion	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Nov 01 2020 Green Gulch Farm
Warm Heart Zazen Serial: SF-11269 Suzuki Roshi’s teaching on warm-hearted zazen practice is the coming together of wisdom and compassion, and can be illuminated by Dr. King’s teaching on the three kinds of love... Zazen, Compassion	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Nov 01 2020 Green Gulch Farm
I Call on the Power of Infinite Compassion (video) Serial: SF-11349 Basic teachings and practices for these challenging times of Pandemic Practice. 09/13/2020, Ejun Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Suzuki Roshi, Compassion	Eijun Linda Cutts	Sep 13 2020 Green Gulch Farm
Embracing Overwhelm: Path to Compassion Serial: SF-11196 Talk by Jiryu at City Center on 2020-09-12 Compassion, Suzuki Roshi	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Sep 12 2020 City Center
Zen Presence Amid Turmoil Serial: SF-11278 Talk by Eijun Linda Cutts at Green Gulch Farm on 2020-09-12 Suzuki Roshi, Compassion	Eijun Linda Cutts	Sep 12 2020 Green Gulch Farm
Grounded in Trust and Faith (video) Serial: SF-11215 Point #3: Atisha's Seven Points of Mind Training- Lojong Teachings 05/16/2020, Dojin Sarah Emerson, dharma talk at City Center. Compassion	Dojin Sarah Emerson	May 16 2020 City Center
Slogans #11-16 Serial: SF-11201 05/14/2020, Onryu Mary Stares, dharma talk at City Center. Practice Period, Compassion	Onryu Mary Stares	May 14 2020 City Center
Lojong Slogan #1: Preliminaries (video) Serial: SF-11229 Point #1: Atisha's Seven Points of Mind Training- Lojong Teachings. 05/02/2020, Onryu Mary Stares, dharma talk at City Center. Compassion	Onryu Mary Stares	May 02 2020 City Center
Finding Refuge in Heartfulness Serial: SF-11387 Talk by Sangha Tenzen David Zimmerman at City Center on 2020-04-09 Suffering, Compassion	Tenzen David Zimmerman	Apr 09 2020 City Center
Unity in Diversity: Zen's Enlightenment Serial: SF-11263 Talk by Sr Servic Tenzen David Zimmerman at City Center on 2020-04-04 Compassion, Wisdom	Tenzen David Zimmerman	Apr 04 2020 City Center
Infinite Compassion: Listening and Responding Serial: SF-10929 Talk by Eijun Linda Cutts at Green Gulch Farm on 2020-01-17 Compassion, Bodhisattva	Eijun Linda Cutts	Jan 17 2020 Green Gulch Farm
Staying in Relationship With Everything In Challenging Times Serial: SF-10729 08/17/2019, Ryushin Paul Haller, dharma talk at City Center. Compassion	Ryushin Paul Haller	Aug 17 2019 City Center
At the Center of All Beings Serial: SF-10745 07/06/2019, Tenshin Reb Anderson, dharma talk at Tassajara. Suffering, Compassion	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Jul 06 2019 Tassajara
The Essence of Buddha's Heart Teachings: Compassion Serial: SF-10815 05/15/2019, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center. Compassion, Suffering	Tenzen David Zimmerman	May 15 2019 City Center
Settling With Sesshin Serial: SF-10825 03/19/2019, Ryushin Paul Haller dharma talk at City Center. Book of Serenity, Compassion	Ryushin Paul Haller	Mar 19 2019 City Center
Zen Dialogues: Path to Compassion Serial: SF-11585 Talk by Tenshin Reb Anderson on 2018-11-18 Compassion, Bodhisattva	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Nov 18 2018
All-Inclusive Practice Serial: SF-11525 10/28/2018, Kiku Christina Lehnherr dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Compassion, Practice Period	Kiku Christina Lehnherr	Oct 28 2018 Green Gulch Farm
Great Compassion Of Zen Serial: SF-11428 10/21/2018, Tenshin Reb Anderson dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Compassion	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Oct 21 2018 Green Gulch Farm
The Time for Compassion is Now Serial: SF-11447 9/23/2018, Keiryu Lien Shutt dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Suffering, Compassion	Keiryu Liên Shutt	Sep 23 2018 Green Gulch Farm
Does a Dog Have Buddha Nature? Serial: SF-11507 07/22/2018, Tenshin Reb Anderson, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Buddha Nature, Compassion	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Jul 22 2018 Green Gulch Farm

Compassion Talks

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