Transforming Vulnerability through Compassion Practices: Changing Fearful Vulnerabilities into an Open Heart

Workshop Presentation
Timothy Pedigo,  Karen Pedigo  

In an age in which religions often create in-group bias against other religions and cultures to the point of war, we need to have practices that can keep us from fighting with each other and create a universal sense of compassion and understanding. In this workshop, we will draw on concepts and practices from a secular compassion program (Cognitive Based Compassion Training), which is derived from the Lojong tradition of Tibetan Buddhism to train participants in practices that utilize painful experiences to be able to create a sense of common humanity and compassion for those even outside one's in-group. Our training begins with generating compassion and kindness for ourselves and then using the same principles as we turn toward others. While the training takes time to internalize (months and years), participants will learn some basic principles and practices they can continue using and integrating into their religious and spiritual traditions. The program begins with basic meditation practices, transitions to self-compassion practices, and then finishes with compassion for other practices. Making compassion practice a priority in our lives will increase our sense of joyful meaning and help make an important difference in bringing peace to our conflictual world.