Compassion cultivation

Inspired by Tibetan Buddhist practice, compassion meditation is a way of connecting our deepest values with our heart.

About the tradition

Compassion meditation is a way of connecting our deepest values with our heart: of practising - on the cushion - an attitude of mindfulness, lovingkindness and common humanity in order to live a more compassionate life. Far from weakening us, compassion builds resilience and connection: it is an expansive state that allows us to accommodate suffering without being overwhelmed by it.

What can attendees expect?

A brief reflection on compassion - how can we grow our compassion into a reliable resource, and how can we overcome barriers to compassion? This will be followed by a compassion meditation practice based on Tibetan Buddhist practice, varying our ‘object’ of compassion to include a loved one, a ‘difficult’ person, all beings, even ourselves; and finishing with time for Q&A.

Informed engagement for your wellbeing

No activity is without potential risks. It is important to understand the benefits and risks of participating in guided meditation practices. To help you make informed decisions about your wellbeing, please read through our evidence-based CSC Guided Meditation FAQs before participating in guided meditation sessions that we facilitate.

It is also important to state that the Contemplative Studies Centre at The University of Melbourne is not a health provider, and any guided meditation or mindfulness sessions we may facilitate are not the provision of a health service. All guided meditation or mindfulness sessions we facilitate are Services under the CSC Terms and Conditions. By participating in these sessions you are indicating that you have read, understood, and agree with the full CSC Terms and Conditions.

View a recording

About the teacher

Dr Petrina Barson

Petrina Barson is the director of the Centre for a Compassionate Society, and an Honorary Fellow in the Department of General Practice at The University of Melbourne.

She is also a mother, a doctor, a poet, an activist, and certified teacher of the Compassion Institute’s ‘Compassion Cultivation Training’ (CCT). CCT is a program which draws from traditional contemplative practice and the science of mindfulness and compassion. She has taught CCT to medical students at The University of Melbourne, and to the general public, since 2014. She understands compassion as an innate human capacity which transcends all religious and cultural divides.

Further resources