What is compassion? Much more than just being nice, compassion is about looking deeply at ourselves and others and recognizing the fundamental goodness we all share. It’s about opening up to the vulnerable space inside every one of us and letting our barriers down. And it’s about daring to be present to ourselves and others with genuine love and kindness. Empowering personal awakening and social change, it might be the most radical and transformative thing we can do. The cultivation of compassion has long been at the core of Naropa University’s mission, since its origins in 1974—and its students and faculty have been leaders in contemplative education with heart. In celebration of Naropa’s fortieth anniversary, Shambhala Publications is pleased to offer these teachings on the path of compassion from a collection of authors who have helped shape the school’s unique and innovative identity, including: • Chögyam Trungpa on opening ourselves more and more to love the whole of humanity • Dzogchen Ponlop on how to cultivate altruism with the help of a spiritual mentor • Judith L. Lief on the common obstacles to compassion and how to overcome them • Gaylon Ferguson on awakening human-heartedness in oneself and society amidst everyday life • Diane Musho Hamilton on connecting to natural empathy and taking a compassionate approach to conflict resolution • Reginald A. Ray on spiritual practices for developing the enlightened mind and heart in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition • Ringu Tulku on the practices of bodhisattvas, those who devote themselves to the path of enlightenment for the sake of all beings • Pema Chödrön on building up loving-kindness for oneself and others with help from traditional Buddhist slogans • Ken Wilber on what it really means to be a support person, with reflections from his own life • Karen Kissel Wegela on avoiding caregiver’s burnout and staying centered amidst our efforts to help those in need • and reflections on Naropa University and the meaning of radical compassion from longstanding faculty member Judith Simmer-Brown

'A powerful book that will free you from shame, fear, and negative self-beliefs. You will feel wiser, happier, and kinder after reading it' Haemin Sunim World-renowned meditation teacher Tara Brach shares a simple four-step practice to awaken compassion and release the grip of painful emotions: Recognize Allow Investigate Nurture Heartfelt and deeply practical, Radical Compassion teaches us to find healing and freedom through the sources of love, courage and deep wisdom alive within us all. 'Radical Compassion lays out a path of straightforward, accessible practices grounded in both modern brain science and ancient wisdom ... a masterpiece' Rick Hanson 'This book is a treasure from one of the most spiritual teachers of our time' Kristin Neff

Loving the Unloved of Society “I realize that God brought me into this world, blessed with skills and talents. The only thing that makes sense to me is to use them in the service of the poor. It is at their feet that I find myself.” For almost ten years, Gary Smith, S.J., lived and worked among the poor of Portland, Oregon. With this memoir, he invites us to walk with him and meet some of the abandoned, over-looked, and forgotten members of our society with whom he has shared his life. Just as Smith found a deeper, truer understanding of himself and of the heart of God through his work, these people and their stories stand to transform us. “Although its subject matter is bleak, the book is not. Smith has found love amid the despair. His book is touching, at times hopeful, and the kind of book that is hard to put down, that fascinates, horrifies, and rivets one’s attention.” —Booklist “Smith takes us where we would rather not go, the heart of the poor, the lonely, and the abandoned. In true Ignatian fashion, he finds God there. An unforgettable experience for those who have the courage to walk with him.” —Michael L. Cook, S.J. Professor of theology Gonzaga University “Smith performs modern-day miracles of compassion, and his book sets a new standard for writing about the rich faith of those who are materially poor. His stirring prose and utter honesty will change the hearts and minds of many readers.” —Gerald T. Cobb, S.J. Chair, department of English Seattle University

Young people’s participation is crucial for shaping and transforming democracies. Youth political participation is taking place within a context of democratic transformation, including a global decline in the state of democracy, shrinking space for civil society, polarisation of the political and social space, economic crisis and precarity, rapid digitalisation, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and, most recently, war. In this setting, we are witnessing a lack of trust in political institutions, an increasing disengagement from the political system and a decline in youth participation in institutional politics. This Youth Knowledge book reminds us that while the context might be changing, young people’s participation is crucial for shaping and transforming democracies. Moving beyond the traditional binary of “conventional” and “nonconventional”, the authors ask the question: “How are young people engaging with democracies in transformation?”, seeking to understand the ways in which young people are defining their own participation. This volume includes eight chapters, ranging from the mapping of young people’s involvement in environmental justice movements and climate strikes, dissent and radical kindness, political participation of young refugees in Europe, as well as explorations of the understanding of the concepts of liberal democracy, youth voice and European citizenship, as well as the importance and role of values and the context. In addition to the chapters, four personal essays, written by young people themselves, give a glimpse into the ways young people are engaging in political participation to shape their schools, communities and Europe, but also the broader systems on which our current politics is built. Young people’s political participation, citizenship and relationship with democracy remain a complex topic for youth research, policy and practice. While this publication does not claim to answer all the questions or represent the realities of all young people across Europe, it gives a glimpse into the landscape of youth engagement in a changing world, highlighting realities, trends and main issues.

Let self-love RAIN. There are a lot of radical ideas out there and Tara Brach posits that it’s time for self-love to be one of them. Advocating for a simple yet profound method she calls RAIN, Brach presents her theories on the practice of radical compassion through four simple steps. By practicing RAIN, you’ll learn how to embrace mindfulness, become your best self, and transcend the trap of negative emotions. Do you want more free book summaries like this? Download our app for free at https://www.QuickRead.com/App and get access to hundreds of free book and audiobook summaries. DISCLAIMER: This book summary is meant as a preview and not a replacement for the original work. If you like this summary please consider purchasing the original book to get the full experience as the original author intended it to be. If you are the original author of any book on QuickRead and want us to remove it, please contact us at hello@quickread.com.

A 2023 CIES Book of the Month pick! How we think about civic participation has changed dramatically and informs our understanding of how civic education is being transformed. Nations, globally, are redefining what is needed to be a ‘good citizen’ and how they should create them. ‘Civic’ participation increasingly extends beyond voting in elections, to informal and unconventional action. Making one’s voice heard involves diverse communication media and wide-ranging skills. Young people are motivated to engagement by concern about climate change and the rights of marginalised people. Social media empower but bring the threat of extremism. Civic education – New Civics – must channel and foster these trends. To create critical, active and responsible citizenship, knowledge alone is not enough; young people need to able to take critical perspectives on a wide range of social and political issues, and to acquire the social, cognitive and organizational skills to do so. How is new civics pedagogy being manifested? What traditional practices are under scrutiny? In this volume sixteen projects in eight countries address questions in research, practices, policy and professional development. What is civic identity and how does participation reflect it? Where do new discourses and definitions come from? How do contemporary social and cultural debates and issues intersect with practice and precepts?

The rise of identity politics in the past decade has been impossible to miss. Issues such as race, sexuality and gender identity have enveloped the left in the UK and the USA. Politicians, big business and celebrities have all got behind these causes. While this might appear progressive, there are many negative consequences of identity politics. Perfect for the general reader, as well as those who wish to study this topic in-depth, this book offers an analysis of the impact of identity politics from a socialist perspective. It will examine how identity politics has damaged the left by analysing examples of identity politics in action from both sides of the Atlantic. And it tells us why it’s time for the left to return to its class-based roots.

Empathy has never been more important, yet we're living in an era of a massive empathy deficit. At the same time, workplace culture has changed dramatically. Leaders, who have already been stretched to the limit, are now being called on to create and nurture genuine connection, psychological safety, and well-being across their organizations--all while adapting to the values of a new generation that won't compromise on diversity, equity, and inclusion. As this book shows, human beings are wired to care, and we can become more empathic with practice. Empathy increases dopamine, reduces stress, boosts self-esteem, heightens the immune system, and enriches our relationships. Empathy also improves business key performance indicators. This means that leveraging empathy on purpose can lead to better health, happier and more productive workplaces, and a more meaningful life. That's why empathy is our superpower. Through inspiring stories; interviews with experts, including business leaders, neuroscientists, activists, social entrepreneurs, and spiritual leaders; a new model rooted in positive psychology and coaching; and self-development exercises at the end of each chapter, Purposeful Empathy offers wisdom and practical advice to foster personal, organizational, and social transformation.

"Be brave. Be kind. Fight fires." That's the motto of firefighters, like Hersch Wilson, who spend their lives walking toward, rather than away from, danger and suffering. As in Zen practice, firefighters are trained to be fully in the moment and present to each heartbeat, each life at hand. In this unique collection of true stories and practical wisdom, Wilson shares the Zen-like techniques that allow people like him to stay grounded while navigating danger, comforting others, and coping with their personal response to each crisis. Every life contains the unexpected and the unwelcome. How you cope with those inevitable events, more than the events themselves, defines the quality of your life. Firefighter Zen is an invaluable guide to meeting every day with your best calm, resilient, and optimistic self.

Voice and Identity draws from the knowledge and expertise of leading figures to explore the evolving nature of voice training in the performing arts. The authors in this international collection look through both practical and theoretical lenses as they connect voice studies to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, and to gender and gender diversity. The book offers chapters that focus on practical tools and tips for voice teachers, and the text also includes chapters that give rich social, cultural, and theoretical discussions that are both academic and accessible, with a particular focus on gender diverse, gender non-binary, transgender, and inclusionary voice research. Offering interdisciplinary insights from voice practitioners and scholars from the disciplines of actor training, singing, public speaking, voice science, communication, philosophy, women’s studies, Indigenous studies, gender studies, and sociology, this book will be a key resource for practitioners and researchers engaged in these fields. The chapters in this book were originally published in the Voice and Speech Review journal.