The Lost Art of Compassion: Discovering the Practice of Happiness in the Meeting of Buddhism and Psychology

A practical guide to cultivating compassion in those difficult moments of daily life: "Inspiring for all of us, therapists and patients alike." —Mark Epstein, MD, author of Thoughts Without a Thinker

Compassion is often seen as a distant, altruistic ideal cultivated by saints, or as an unrealistic response of the naively kind-hearted. Seeing compassion in this way, we lose out on experiencing the transformative potential of one of our most neglected inner resources.

Dr. Lorne Ladner rescues compassion from this marginalized, idealized place, showing how its practical application in our life can be a powerful force in achieving happiness. Combining the wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism and Western psychology, Ladner presents clear, effective practices for cultivating compassion in daily living.

"[A] realistic, manageable approach to dispelling bitterness and anger and replacing it with empathy and patience." —Publishers Weekly

"You've probably noticed you can't make yourself happy. Exercising compassion will not only get you through many a traffic jam . . . it will begin building an unshakeable happiness . . . a wonderful book." —Annie Dillard, author of Pilgrim at Tinker Creek Includes a foreword by Robert Thurman

© 2009 HarperOne (Ebook): 9780061748691

Release date

Ebook: 13 October 2009