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Q: Tell us about the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) that you founded at Stanford University. Sometimes people think compassion is internal, vague and hard to describe, and that exploring compassion is a soft science. How are you studying compassion and altruism and what are you finding?
There’s been a lot of interest in how the brain responds or reacts to meditation and this research has been going on for the last three decades, initially led by Rick Hanson. But what is interesting to me, and remains interesting, is that what is at the core of many of these meditative practices is compassion: compassion for yourself certainly, and compassion for others.
As I looked at this area, I realized that our survival is related to nurturing and caring for our offspring. And in the human species this involves caring not only for our offspring but for others as well. As a result of this requirement – that our offspring are nurtured for a decade and a half or more after birth, unlike other mammals that just run off into the forest after birth – our offspring require us to essentially teach them, while they mirror our behaviors, so that they will survive. Yet the cost of that to our species – to the parents or the mother – is huge with regard to time, resources and energy. Without that nurturing, caring and bonding, our offspring don’t survive.
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Aging Gracefully - For a few months now I have been asking the question, “How to age gracefully?”
Victor Kannan explores the process of aging, with a focus on aging gracefully. How can you be at peace with yourself as old age approaches? How can you develop maturity in behavior and focus on life’s best interests?
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Portrait Painting
FABIO KOHLER is an artist and musician.
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The Mountain of No Return
SARA BUBBER tells a beautiful Japanese folktale on valuing wisdom and experience and asks you to do a personal reflective exercise.
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By Acts of Love
CHRISTINE PRISLAND shares her love of books, good storytelling, and a particular author that inspires and delights her
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How Does Fear Affect Our Roles as Mothers?
NEELAM SHIVHARE explores some of the great ancient texts of India on motherhood, compares the behavior of Kaikayi and Yashoda, and realizes the importance of removing fear from our hearts in order to nurture our children.
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The Difference Between Trust and Respect
DR. ICHAK ADIZES shares some thoughts on the nature of mutual trust and respect, and why we can trust without respecting, and respect without trusting.
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A SIMPLE WAY TO IMPROVE Your Health and the Health of the Planet
DAAJI explains why a plantbased diet is good for your health and well-being, and for the planet. Some of the reasons may surprise you. Yogic science is very comprehensive on this subject, and now medical science is catching up. Daaji then challenges us all to do an experiment for three months.
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International Cities of Peace
J. FREDERICK ARMENT is in conversation with CHRISTINE JONES about his organization, International Cities of Peace, as well as other ways he promotes peace in the world. The foundation of it all is the importance of relationship, community, and love. This is the first of a series of conversations.
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THE SEEKER OF KNOWLEDGE
SARA BUBBER shares a story from the Upanishads about knowledge, communication, truthfulness, and courage. She then gives us a few reflections and an activity to connect with Nature.
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Serving Smiles: FROM HEART TO TABLE
NIROOP PRABHAKAR owns and runs the restaurant 615chutney in Nashville, Tennessee. 615chutney started as the only Indian food truck serving vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free South Indian food. Niroop's goal was to bring South Indian cuisine to the US. He believes that customer service is the key. The voices of his customers and employees matter to him. Here he is interviewed by the Heartfulness Wellness team.