Now in paperback, this practical guide to cultivating compassion delivers Buddhist and psychological insight right where we need it most—navigating the difficulties of our daily lives. 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 marginalised view, 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 helpful, kindhearted, articulate teaching of the way of compassion. Buddhism and Western psychology meet here wisely and beautifully.” - Jack Kornfield, author of A Path With Heart “Ladner shows us that by nurturing compassion in our lives, we can discover deep strength, intimacy, and joy.” - Philip Martin, author of The Zen Path Through Depression “Dr. Ladner’s book is inspiring for all of us, therapists and patients alike.” - Mark Epstein, MD, author of Thoughts Without a Thinker “An important addition to the growing literature on the meeting of Buddhist practice and Western psychology.” - Library Journal “This book carries the enlightened wisdom to heal relationship problems and mental suffering that trouble our life.” - Lama Zopa Rinpoche “Exercising compassion will begin building an unshakeable happiness. Dr. Ladner’s written a wonderful book.” - Annie Dillard, author of Pilgrim at Tinker Creek “Ladner is like an inner archeologist brilliantly illuminating the treasured jewels of compassion―an essential―but often neglected component of personal and global transformation.” - Tara Bennett-Goleman, author of Emotional Alchemy “Lorne Ladner is like an inner archeologist brilliantly illuminating the neglected component of personal and global transformation.” - Tara Bennett-Goleman, author of Emotional Alchemy Now in paperback, this practical guide to cultivating compassion delivers Buddhist and psychological insight right where we need it most—navigating the difficulties of our daily lives. 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 marginalised view, 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. Lorne Ladner, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist in private practice near Washington, D.C., and an adjunct faculty member in the counseling program at Argosy University. Dr. Ladner is also center director at the Guhyasamaja Buddhist Center in Northern Virginia. He regularly teaches classes, conducts workshops, and leads meditation retreats. The Lost Art of Compassion Discovering the Practice of Happiness in the Meeting of Buddhism and Psychology By Ladner, Lorne HarperSanFrancisco ISBN: 0060750529 Chapter One Living Deliberately Buddhist masters always have emphasized that each moment of life is precious. In any given moment, we can allow life to pass us by or we can be mindful of what's most essential, living with genuine purpose, energy, and joy. Too often we find ourselves hurrying to grab our coffee, commute to work, and get to a meeting, rarely pausing to take a deep breath and seriously consider how we spend the limited number of precious moments that we have. When we're aware and awake in a given moment, we have the capacity to make that moment extraordinary. So many of us come home from tiring days at work or school and automatically turn on a television or radio. We spend our evenings freely on such distractions, as though we had an endless supply. Once, my closest Buddhist teacher, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, came to stay at our home for a few days. Rinpoche is particularly famous for using each moment of life with great awareness and compassionate purpose. After a busy day we had dinner together, and Rinpoche then retired to his room to meditate. So my wife and I cleaned up a bit and then sat down, as was our habit at the time, to watch a late-night talk show. After some time Rinpoche came out and sat down by us. He said, "Oh, is he the one who makes fun of people?" It struck me that Rinpoche looked at his own life and our lives as an anthropologist might look at the rituals of a tribe in some remote forest, with a mind always open and fresh, wondering what the purpose of these actions might be. As the talk-show interview about some recent scandal conti