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Module 6: Mindful Compassion in the Presence of Suffering

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Delivering Compassionate Care

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Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of compassion and its training, with particular attention to its relationship with empathy. After clarifying the what and why of compassion from a scientific perspective, we introduce activities and a meditation practice aimed at how to experience greater compassion in daily life. As presented, the mindful cultivation of compassion offers a path for accepting, working with, and transforming our empathic responses to suffering. Through mindful compassion, we learn to approach rather than avoid suffering, whether in ourselves or others. The set of activities and practice help to highlight the personal and social benefits of cultivating a more mindful and compassionate stance toward suffering.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Naropa University, Boulder, CO, USA

    Jordan Quaglia

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  1. Jordan Quaglia
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Correspondence to Jordan Quaglia .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Sarah Ellen Braun

  2. School of Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Patricia Anne Kinser

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Quaglia, J. (2022). Module 6: Mindful Compassion in the Presence of Suffering. In: Braun, S.E., Kinser, P.A. (eds) Delivering Compassionate Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91062-4_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91062-4_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-91061-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-91062-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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