Practicing Compassion

by Frank Rogers Jr.

Compassion is more than a sympathetic feeling – it’s the bond of human connection.
Most religions lift up compassion, yet few people actually teach how to practice it.

Through rich and moving stories of people from various faiths, Frank Rogers shows ways to incorporate compassion in our daily lives. His interfaith perspective on mercy, kindness, and caring for one another trains us to Pay attention, Understand empathically, Love with connection, Sense the sacredness, and Embody new life (PULSE).

Praise for Practicing Compassion
Everybody believes in compassion, but nobody tells you how to practice it. Until now. Frank Rogers turns compassion into a doable, daily practice – as simple as catching your breath and taking your pulse. If you want to read a book that actually has the capacity to change your life (and the world), beginning today, this is the book to read.
–Brian D. McLaren, author/speaker/blogger/activist (brianmclaren.net)

If you want clear, practical guidance on how to cultivate the inner resources to become a healing presence and force of good for the world, there is no better book than this and no better guide than Frank Rogers

Genres: Spirituality, Religion

145 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 5, 2014

Reviews

[Safiya Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book challenged me to really think about my views on compassion. What are the things that I am compassionate about? What are things that I struggle to feel compassion about? Why? It is a really great read for students and workers of people serving ministries.

My one criticism is in the story of MLK being stabbed by a man and the compassion that MLK showed that man. In reality MLK was stabbed by a black woman with a mental disability. This to me changes the reading of this section. And offers even more questions and commentary about compassion.

[Joyce Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a step by step method that helps us to develop the gift of a compassionate heart. The author points out how compassion lies at the heart of all major faith traditions and offers a balanced view of each that may be off-putting to those who have a more exclusionist view of religion. I found the book to be personally helpful and am looking forward to leading a small group in my church through it.

[Floyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basically a secular view of compassion but some moving stories and a couple of useful exercises.

[Richard Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think it is reasonably safe to assume most people would like to grow in their practice of compassion. This book is a practical guide to that practice. However, it assumes that all traditions of compassion practice are equal, and repeatedly implies that Christian methods are inferior to other religious traditions. There are portions of the book that are so heterodox that it is disturbing to see that the Upper Room is the publisher of the book. It makes me wonder whether I should read through the Upper Room devotionals before our church distributes them to make sure they haven't strayed from Christianity in the same way. I find this disappointing and disturbing.