Field notes on the compassionate life
Subtitle: a search for the soul of kindness
By: Marc Ian Barasch
Publisher: Rodale; Distributed by Holtzbrinck Publishers
Published: 2005
Place of publication: Emmaus, Pa
Language: eng
Number of pages: 356
ISBN-13: 9781579547110
Subjects: Morale pratique; Compassion; Conduct of life; Bonheur; Kindness; Bonté; Happiness
Description: Marc Ian Barasch, dubbed "one of today's coolest grown-ups" by Interview magazine, sets out on a journey to the heart of compassion. He discovers its power to change who we are and the society we have become. Compassion, he concludes, is "a prescription for authentic joy." Can tapping into one simple human trait, hardwired into our nervous system and just waiting to be awakened, transform our lives and the world at large? Could it help us enjoy new levels of happiness and contentment? Exploring his subject through the multiple lenses of psychology and biology, pop culture and theology, history and philosophy, Barasch weaves a stirring, unforgettable account of his search to find within himself and others: the ability to live compassionately. He examines such fascinating questions as: What can we learn from exceptionally empathetic people? Can we increase our kindness quotient with practice? How do we open our hearts to those who do us harm? What if the great driving force of our evolution were actually "survival of the kindest?" Drawing from influences as disparate as Buddhist monks and skeptical neuroscientists, Barasch creates a riveting, persuasive argument that a simple shift in consciousness can have a tremendous, lasting impact on our psyches, our relationships, our health--and the very fate of the Earth. An inspirational handbook interweaves insights from the diverse fields of theology, philosophy, history, psychology, biology, and pop culture to explore the need for each individual to discover the ability to live with compassion and kindness, arguing that a simple shift in consciousness will ahve a lasting impact on our relationships, health, lives, and the fate of the Earth.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 349-353) and index.
Table of contents: title: The circles of compassion; title: Roots, branches, and the clear blue sky; title: Empathy : you in me, me in you; title: Street retreat : the debt of love; title: The good eye; title: Heart science, heart's mystery; title: The giveaway; title: The altruist; title: The elixir of forgiveness; title: Loving the monster; title: Another little peace of the heart; title: The beloved community; title: All my relations.