Cultivating the Heart of Compassion: A One-Day Contemplative Workshop

The need for compassion in our personal, organizational and societal lives is increasingly evident. In the past several years training programs, based in ancient wisdom and modern science, have been developed that helps bring forth the compassion inherent in all human beings.

“Imagine the profound transformation in society if our interactions with one another in our personal lives and in our work in groups and institutions were based on compassion,” says David Wimberly, “Very many decisions and process would have profoundly better results.” 

In this workshop we will explore and engage in training practices to make compassion a core part of our daily activities and decision making.  In a compassionate, collaborative, interactive environment we will explore ways to bring compassion into the daily life of the organizations as well as our personal lives.  The workshop will provide an entry point for an ongoing collaborative process.

This workshop is organized on four major themes in compassion training:

• Setting our view and intentions
• Developing self-awareness
• Practices for cultivating compassion for oneself and others
• The process of Compassionate action.

Contemplative practice is the fundamental tool we will use to explore each of these themes.

“Because compassion action occurs in communication and relationships among and between people the workshop will involve contemplative exchange with others as well as personal practices.” offers Jim Torbert, “Together we will create and experience an environment infused with compassion for self and others.”

No previous experience with contemplative practice, compassion training, meditation, or mindfulness is required.

Date: Saturday, November 12, 2016 9:00 AM-5:00 PM – Please arrive at 8:30 to register and be seated for a 9:00 AM start.

Facilitators: Jim Torbert, David Whitehorn, and David Wimberly

Location: St. Luke’s United Church, Tantallon.

Cost: $80 (lunch provided). A generosity policy applies so that anyone interested can participate, regardless of ability to pay. Volunteer help encouraged.

Registration: Please send an email to jtorbert@eastlink.ca to register.

Payment can be made by Paypal (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=6PZQY2JZG7KFN), E-transfer (jtorbert@eastlink.ca) or cheque (made out to the Atlantic Contemplative Centre and mailed to 6009 Inglis Street, Halifax, NS B3H1K9).

For questions please contact: jtorbert@eastlink.ca

The workshop is presented by the Waves of Compassion Association and the Atlantic Contemplative Centre

www.wavesofcompassion.ca and www.contemplativecentre.org and hosted by Transition Bay St Margarets www.transitionbay.ca

David Whitehorn, PhD, MSN, is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University and a Director of the Atlantic Contemplative Centre. He has been involved with contemplative practices for more than forty years and has conducted numerous workshops on compassion and related topics for healthcare providers and the general public.

Jim Torbert, BArch, MHSA, is a Director of the Atlantic Contemplative Centre and co-director of the Waves of Compassion Association. He has over forty years of experience with contemplative practices. He has facilitated a wide range of programs for business, healthcare and public audiences on contemplative practices essential to the cultivation of compassion.

David Wimberly is a Director of Transition Bay St Margarets. He has engaged in contemplative practices for over forty years.  He has facilitated numerous events, projects, and organizations on living compassionately, sustainably, and equitably on this Earth.  

For questions please contact: jtorbert@eastlink.ca

For more information:  Waves of Compassion  and the Atlantic Contemplative Centre