Books Addressing Advanced Eastern Religion Concepts in Compassion

November, 2007

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Some books speak to advanced concepts in compassion or are written in an academic style not easily readable by the general public.  Below is an listing of topic headings under which these books are grouped.

There are books, and articles, that can be downloaded from this site that address advanced concepts in compassion development.
Click on one of the buttons at the top of the page: healing, support, mystic or ultimate (these are the first four books listed on this site).

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Title: The Practice of Lojong: Cultivating compassion through training the mind

Author: Traipg Kyabgon

Publisher/Year: Shambhala, 2007

Summary: Although the author states this book could be used by beginners, the first half of the book includes concepts beyond most beginners. There is reference made to the historical literature which is useful for more advanced students.  The advanced orientation is revealed when the author speaks of the change process related to developing a compassionate mind and says that it does not start with saying "I will stop doing this thing and start doing that thing" but rather "it comes from a trascedental view".  He then links this view to sitting in our "natural space" and realizing "absolute bodichitta".  This serves as a foundation for all lojong training.  There are some "preliminaries" that can asssit in process: curious humility (described as the most important), trusting in the safe refuge of following "the Way", committment, cherish that you are the vessel (necessary for acceptance of transformative experiences), impermanence (futility of worldly pursuits), and karmic law.  Relative bodichitta follows after the discussion of absolute bodichitta. It is the intelligence, the practice, but built on the foundation of absolute bodichitta.  Tonglen, taking in and giving back, is the central practice and understanding its ties to absolute bodichitta greatly strenthens its practice.  There is a section on skillful means and a very brief section on emptiness.  At the end on the book are a series of "practices", or steps, for training in lojong.

Comments: I am hopeful that the above summary points out that this book contains some concepts that most beginners will find difficult.  I found the description of absolute bodichitta to be outstanding and restating it as fundamental to the practice of Tonglen equally illuminating.  My own writings on compassion speak of a similar path.  The problem of trying to speak to both beginners and advanced students within a single book can result in confusion, and I think the author runs into this with trying to put some basic "steps" at the end of the book and not really staying consistent with the message of the first half.  The other piece lacking is a more in depth look at the role of emptiness.  The innate nature of compassion is suggested (our natural space).  Empathy is mentioned but not really elaborated.  There are also indications that there is a developmental progression to be learned in compassion training, but this is not clearly defined. The relational qualities of "passing it on", like in most Eastern books, is mostly absent.

Reviewer: Dr. W. David Hoisington

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Title: Faces of Compassion: Classic Bodhisatta archetypes and their modern expression

Author: Taigen Dan Leighton

Publisher/Year: Wisdom Pub., 2003

Summary: Both a historical and modern look at the icons, symbols and rituals that are often tied to the worship of compasion in East Asia.  He states that arcetypes are "fundamental models of dominant psychic aspects of the enlightened being" pointing out that the nature of these archetypes change "with different times or phases in their practice". The author also inserts his own person "transformation" at the altar of one of these icons.   An interesting point made (one Americans may have not realized yet) that "Attachment to meditation bliss is strongly warned against as a serios obstacle to true awakening". He also points out that the great masters taught others through a "mind-to-mind transmission", but he also warns against our search for the "perfect teacher". There is also advice that the actual experince is diferent from any iconic language.

Comments: An enjoyable book, although in places heavy in places on the historical.  There is only a brief discussion of empathy .  It is nice to see it proposed that the "capacity of compassion... runs deeper then what is imagined in conventional human logic and perceptions"  which is one of the basic assumptions explored in books on advanced compassion. The book seems to say that exploring advanced compassion is more about letting go then doing after.  Using the idea of achetype speaks to some basic human character and the use of icons and rituals speaks to a language of community and to the need for support. What is interesting is how often, across cultures, man has developed rituals community based rituals and explanatory systems to share the nature of an experience which ultimatly is deeply both personal and interpersonal.  The calling of the mystic is to "pass it on", mind - to - mind.

Reviewer: Dr. W. David Hoisington

Title: Cultivating a Compassionate Heart: The yoga method of Chenrezig
Author: Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron
Publisher/Date: SnowLion Pub., 2003

Book Summary:  A Buddhist perspective presented with poetry, prayers/mantras, and many meditative practices to help cultivate a compassionate mind. There are very good sections on the relationship between emptiness and becoming a radiant being of compassion.  This is a difficult subject to convey, and few authors have done it well.  There are some basic steps presented focusing on the golden rule, letting go, medititaion, visualization, working through relationship issues, "taking refuge", taking and giving practice, purification rituals and rebirth. 

Comments: This is one of the few books that speaks about a sacred radiant light of compassion that is available to us, and can flow through us to others, but the book is full of symbolisim and interpretation that is often dificult to wade through. Although this is an advanced concept in relation to compassion, being aware of  "the light"can help guide us during our basic compassion development years. At the start of the book the Dalai Lama states that compassion is a fundamental quality of being human, but this is not elaborated upon.  There is no discussion of empathy or developmental levels. It is nice to see some discussion of relationship history and its role in compassion development as this is rare in Eastern religious texts about compassion. There is some material about "passing it on" scattered throughout the book.

Reviewer: Dr. David Hoisington

Web page author W. David Hoisington, Ph.D.