50.1 F
Spokane
Thursday, March 6, 2025
spot_img
HomeNewsChodron, Kolts to present day-long event on compassion

Chodron, Kolts to present day-long event on compassion

Date:

Related stories

Priest Lake Church offers unique Stations of the Cross for Lenten worship

St. Blanche Church in Priest Lake offers a unique outdoor Stations of the Cross, inviting all to reflect on Jesus' journey through nature, prayer and community this Lenten season.

Gonzaga celebrates Ash Wednesday with interfaith participation

This Ash Wednesday, Gonzaga University offers diverse ash distribution across campus, inviting all faiths for an inclusive, interfaith experience.

Pope Francis suffers two ‘acute respiratory failures’

On Monday (March 3), Pope Francis suffered two respiratory crisis and now has a "guarded" prognosis. He has been in the hospital since Feb. 14.

Idaho resolution honoring ‘traditional’ two-parent families approved by Senate

Idaho lawmakers advance a Senate-approved resolution to establish Traditional Family Values Month, celebrating opposite-sex parents amid debate over what constitutes a traditional family structure.

FāVS News hosts ‘Uniting the Inland Northwest’ community event

FāVS News presents "Uniting the Inland Northwest" on April 27 in Spokane, featuring keynote speaker Itohan Idumwonyi and breakout sessions on regional issues to help bridge divides.

Our Sponsors

spot_img

By Erin Robinson

openheartedlife_coverOn May 9, Russell Kolts, professor of Psychology at Eastern Washington Univeristy, and Venerable Thubten Chodron of Sravasti Abbey will present lectures, discussions and contemplations on compassion at the release of the American version of their book, “An Open-Hearted Life.”

The event will be from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Spokane Unitarian Universalist Church. It will feature joint sessions with Kolts and Chodron, as well as individual group sessions.

In an email, Kolts said the sessions will, “emphasize talks by the authors, discussion questions and answer sessions, and meditation and experiential exercises aimed at helping people experience and learn to cultivate compassion.”

Chodron said that compassion was chosen as the theme of the event because she wants attendees to understand properly what it is, the value of it, and that it requires inner strength and courage.

Kolts and Chodron will be referencing “An Open-Hearted Life” during the discussions and lectures.

Kolts said the book “Was written with the same purpose as the workshop — to give people straightforward, user-friendly ways to learn about compassion and how to apply it to daily life.”

He also adds, “We think it’s a particularly approachable way for busy people to cultivate compassion in the context of lives that may already feel over-full.”

The book was a joint effort between Kolts and Chodron; they each wrote separate sections, then came together to modify them into a series of one to five page readings. Each one ends with a reflection on how to apply the focus of that reading to daily life.

“An Open-Hearted Life” was an opportunity for “two perspectives to mesh,” said Chodron.

Her in-depth studies and practice of Buddhism combined with Kolts’ study and teaching of psychology creates a unique dynamic.

In reference to the similarities between the two, Kolts says, “Both Buddhism and Psychology seek to understand and address suffering in the world. Both seek to understand the mind and to help people learn to work with pain, suffering, and difficulty.”

Through the release of the book and the discussions, Kolts and Chodron said they hope those attending the event will gain the inspiration and skills to practice compassion.

Later this month there will be another book release and discussion series on May 26 at Auntie’s Bookstore.

Erin Robinson
Erin Robinsonhttp://www.gonzaga.edu
Erin Robinson is currently a junior at Gonzaga University pursuing a degree in broadcast and electronic media, as well as minors in journalism and music. She is an active member of the University Choir, Chamber Choir and Mu Phi Epsilon music fraternity. Robinson recently studied abroad in Florence, Italy and hopes to combine her passions of travel and media to become an international reporter.

Our Sponsors

spot_img
spot_img
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
spot_img
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x