Home Index Page Compassion History
Last Updated:
May, 2010
Title:  Compassion in Action: setting out on the path of service
Author: Ram Dass and Mirabai Bush
Publisher/Date: Shambala, 1992
Book Summary: The first half of the book by Ran Dass is autobiographical. It is well written and easy to comprehend.  The material describes many of the diversions one might encounter when seeking the path of compassionate being.  It also shows his struggle with different human service models - something many people face on the path of compassion. The result is an interesting mix of different principles but he states his main emphasis comes from "karma yoga".
The second half of the book, by Mirabai Bush, offers a series of steps to consider when thinking about compassionate service.  These steps include the following:  act from the heart, start where you are, listen, baby steps, visualize, homework, stay awake to suffering, reflect on your motives, know your talents, go lightly.
Comments: The book presents different views of the barriers one might encounter when seeking a compssionate path of service. Deveopmental levels are not described. There is only a brief mention of empathy and passing it on.  The perspective is oriented more to individual mind than to a relational  perspective. The strength of the book is in helping people to understand some of the basic mental barriers faced when beginning the path.
Title: Passionaries: Turning compassion into action.
Author: Barbera R. Metzler
Publisher/Date: Templeton Foundation, 2006
Book Summary: The author states: "We must identify, and celebrate those people willing to take thier passions and apply them to universal goals much larger than themselves."  The book is a collection of mini-biographies of "ordinary" (in the sense that they are much like we all are) people who made a difference in the lives of others, and sometimes in the way our society viewed how it provided help for others.  In the examples given the "passionaries" have established not-for-profit organisations (like the "Make-A-Wish Foundation") so that their vision may continue.  Contact information is included for each organization - focused on USA.
Comments:  This book is quite easy to read. It is great to see how folks stepped "out of their comfort zone" to do something that made a difference in the community. Although the assumptions of compassion are not addressed in this book directly, it is a book that shows us "ordinary" people can do good deeds, and help others.  This is to be celebrated because it shows us what can be possible, and the practice part of compassion is very important to self and society.  But it is also important to recognize that passion to do good works is not the only component of compassion (see the basic papers on this website).
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Comments below address the basic assumptions of compassion -> -> -> ->
Reviewer: Dr. W. David Hoisington
Reviewer:
Reviewer:
Reviewer: Dr. W. David Hoisington
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Book Reviews - History or Biography 
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