Compassion Based Living Course

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What is compassion?

Compassion can be defined as “being sensitive to the suffering of self and others with a deep commitment to try to prevent and relieve it”. According to the Evolutionary Model of Paul Gilbert and the neuroscience research he draws on, the potential for compassion is part of our mammalian heritage and is wired into our brains through the soothing/affiliation system. However, our compassion can become blocked, so in order for it to be an ongoing part of our lives we need to actively train it.

Scientific research has shown that compassion practice can:

• Reduce in stress, anxiety & depression

• Boost our sense of well-being

• Help us feel more connected

• Improve our self-esteem

• Reduce burn-out

What is the Compassion Based Living Course (CBLC)?

The CBLC is an eight-week course aimed at helping you to develop an in-depth personal experience of Compassion and to build the foundations of a sustained personal practice, with a view to applying this in your life and perhaps also in your professional work. The course was developed by the Mindfulness Association as a follow on from the Mindfulness Based Living course and draws on insights and practices from neuroscience, evolutionary psychology and Mahayana Buddhism. It was inspired by the work of Paul Gilbert, Christopher Germer and Kristin Neff. This experiential course starts with building self-compassion into basic mindfulness practice, cultivating positive emotions as a way of building up an inner resource, from which we can approach the difficulties of being alive. Exploring practices which generate love and friendliness, we move from self-compassion towards compassion for others, learning how to respond appropriately to suffering while also appreciating the good things in our lives. The course includes 8 weekly 2hr sessions and an optional retreat day and includes explanation, guided practice, group reflection and inquiry. The sessions are interactive with a strong emphasis on experiential learning.

What is covered in the course?

Week 1 – Why practice Compassion?

Week 2 – The Compassionate Mess

Week 3 – It is not our fault: An evolutionary perspective

Week 4 – Creating Conditions of Safeness

Week 5 – Befriending the Self-Critic

Week 6 – Finding the Compassionate Friend Within

Week 7 – The Four Immeasurable Qualities

Week 8 – Compassion for others - Tonglen

There will also be a FREE optional retreat day between weeks 6 & 7

Is this course for me?

The course is ideal for those who have already completed the Mindfulness Based Living Course or other 8-week mindfulness courses. If you haven’t completed an 8-week mindfulness course, but have a regular practice of mindfulness, please get in contact to see if this course is right for you. The course is experiential, not therapeutic, as such we advise that if you are undergoing treatment for an ongoing mental health problem, you obtain advice from your mental health professional before proceeding with compassion training.  Also, if you have recently or are currently going through a traumatic life event and want to discuss whether now is the right time to start a mindfulness course, please contact us for an informal chat before booking.

What’s included?​

• 8 x 2hr compassion sessions

• Optional retreat day

• A comprehensive course manual delivered electronically

• A series of downloadable guided meditations for home practice

• Certificate of completion

• Support from a qualified mindfulness teacher throughout the course

Cost & Booking

The full cost of the course is £175* and can be booked directly through our website. Early booking is recommended as each course has a maximum of 10 places.

* Special Early Bird Rate of £125 if booked directly with us and at least 2 weeks before the start of the course.

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As always, if you would like to attend, but feel you are unable to afford the fee, please contact us for concessions as we do not wish to exclude anyone based on cost.

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