THE TWELVE STEPS TO A COMPASSIONATE LIFE (2nd Sundays)

WHEN: 2nd Sundays at 9.a.m.
WHERE: HUU Fellowship Building
Facilitator: Paul Revell

These sessions will be based on the book The Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong. Conversation will focus on the various themes in the book (e g. empathy, how we should speak with one another, concern for everybody, and loving one’s enemies).

The sessions will start (September, October) with a viewing and discussion of Karen Armstrong’s 2011 presentation described above. She is a profound, lively and fun speaker and you are encouraged to come along. The video will offer you an historical and religious framework for our later conversations on compassionate living. Armstrong also talks about the Charter for Compassion (www.charterforcompassion.org), a movement and a vehicle by which people may help spread compassionate living in our communities and in the world.

Compassion: Outline and Schedule (Check regularly on this website for changes).

September 11th: Part One – Karen Armstrong’s Ware Lecture at 2011 General Assembly followed by brief discussion of observations by participants.

Discussion: How does the compassion concept relate to the events of 9/11, and our personal and national reaction to those.

October 9th: Part Two – Karen Armstrong’s Ware Lecture and discussion.

Discussion: How do we personally define “compassion”? How does the UU community define and promote the concept of “compassion”?

November 13th: Steps I-III

I. Learning About Compassion
II. Look at Your Own World
III. Compassion for Yourself

Discussion:

Follow up from previous session on defining “compassion.”
The “Golden Rule” – what is it? What does it mean to you personally?
How is it interpreted and applied by the UU community?
How does/should our larger community/state/nation interpret and apply it?
What societal problems can you personally address with a compassionate mindset? What societal problems can a compassionate UU community address?
How is compassion for yourself the foundation for compassion in a wider sense?

December 11th: Steps IV-VI

IV.   Empathy
V.    Mindfulness
VI.   Action

Discussion

Four immeasurable minds of love meditation – Buddha
What is mindfulness?
The four “Fs”
“Spots of time’ – little, nameless, unremembered, acts of kindness and love
Three step plan for putting the “Golden Rule” into action in our personal life

January 8th: Steps VII-IX

VII. How Little We Know
VIII. How Should We Speak to One Another
IX. Concern for Everybody

Discussion:

Broaden your perspective so that it “can make a place for the other”.
The process of ekstasis
What is “true dialogue?
How do we assert a strongly held conviction with compassion?
Who do we mean by “everybody”? In our congregation? In our community? Is there a wider perspective?
Can we “make a place for the more distant other?"

February 12th: Steps X-XII

X. Knowledge
XI. Recognition
XII. Love Your Enemies

Discussion:

The effort of getting to know one another demands sound information and a willingness to question received ideas
The concept of upeksha
Recognition-there is no “us” and “them”. They are the same.
We are not alone in our suffering. Everybody is in pain.
If there had been a non-violent response to the attacks of 9/11 instead of a military offensive, would our current situation in the world be different?
Discuss the following quotation: “Loving our enemies means that we have to accept the necessity , over and over again, of forgiving those who inflict evil and injury on us”. Martin Luther King
What does it mean to “learn to see the sorrow of our enemy?"

March 11th:

Discussion of the Charter for Compassion and, if desired, how HUU members may raise awareness of this effort in Harrisonburg and local colleges.
Discussion of the Compassionate Cities Campaign. If and how HUU members might encourage Harrisonburg to become a registered Compassionate City?