Can Compassion Be Learnt?

This might be of interest:�http://www.care2.com/causes/can-we-train-ourselves-to-be-more-compassionate.html

Some believe that compassion is an innate quality that not all of us possess, but�studies�suggest that it is in fact a learned behavior and one that could be harnessed to create a kinder and more empathetic world.

Cultivating Kindness

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison say that through�compassionate meditation, positive emotions such as loving-kindness can be learned in the same way as playing an instrument or becoming proficient in sport.

The study, which was carried out by Richard Davidson and his team of investigators at UW-Madison, was the first of its kind to utilize functional magnetic resonance imaging (an MRI technology that measures brain activity) to identify how exactly the brain systems that are directly involved with empathy are affected when practicing a voluntary generation of compassion.

Read more:�http://www.care2.com/causes/can-we-train-ourselves-to-be-more-compassionate.html#ixzz2jImnwlN3

Based on another study by Richard Davidson, it was found that people who meditated on compassion for all beings achieved the following:

1. Improved and sharper cognitive abilities (ie. becomes “smarter”).

2. Has a larger capacity to be happy.

3. Has reduced propensity towards negativity.

Hence, meditating on compassion for others benefits oneself too.

But more importantly is the question: Can compassion be learnt?

I believe compassion is in everyone of us sentient beings (including animals, of course). We just need to be in touch with our inner, deepest self to realise that it’s already there. That compassion is also part of our conscience. The unfortunate thing is that many humans are not really in touch with their innate compassion or their conscience, so they allow themselves to be governed by learnt negative behaviours.

Children are naturally compassionate…until some adults teach them to be otherwise.

We adults have a duty to all children – to teach them to be in touch with their compassionate nature and their conscience, and to hold on to it always.

Teach them by example. That’s the most effective way.

Not “do as I say”, but “do as I do”.

Source: http://myanimalcare.org/2013/10/31/can-compassion-be-learnt/

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