Compassion: Listening to the Cries of the World

by Christina Feldman

Do you turn away from your own physical and emotional pain? Do you withhold empathy or give yourself away when witnessing another’s pain? Do you lash out or withdraw when you feel that someone has harmed you? Is it possible to learn to respond to rather than react against what feels unbearable? Drawing on her experience as a Buddhist practitioner and teacher, Christina Feldman asserts that it is possible, but only if we turn, time and again, toward compassion, which she describes as the "innate, natural condition of our hearts." She says, "You do not need to be a saint to find the grace and transformative power of compassion; you need only to be willing to pay attention to pain and its cause and to commit yourself to its end." She offers techniques for developing the capacity to hold adversity, loss, and pain—with love. Her guided meditations will teach you to cultivate and sustain compassion for the blameless, for those who cause suffering, for those whom you love, and for yourself.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality

194 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 18, 2005

Reviews

[John Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read on the subject of compassion. In understanding that compassion is born from meeting our challenges, doubts, and disappointment in ourselves and others versus running from it, for the fist building block of compassion is to keep showing up for all of life with patience.
I was also able to find several videos of the author who gave talks about compassion, fabrication and non fabrication, and other topics. Really like her and plan to read more of here writings.

[Lynn Rossy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what we need right now to find healing for ourselves and the world. My bookgroup read it and really liked it a lot.

[Allison Barlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing insights, dense with wisdom, and excellent practices.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring, relatable, expansive, and kind. I must have highlighted at least half of this book! Christina Feldman has so much wisdom to offer and does it in such a down-to-earth way. A beautiful, detailed exploration of compassion in its many forms.

[Mariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great book to read and reread.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good re-read to end 2021.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful and accessible book on cultivating compassion regardless of your circumstances. There are many insights in this Buddhist perspective on compassion in loss/anger/adversity.