Aura Glaser wrote this book to address an area that is virtually neglected in the field of psychology - the value and importance of compassion. Other books exploring Buddhism and psychology have focused on what the Theravada school of Buddhism, which teaches personal liberation, can offer psychology. A Call to Compassion works with Mahayana Buddhism, where practitioners commit to the liberation of all sentient beings, and compassion is central to attaining that goal. In her fascinating and exceptionally clear and concise review of the work of Freud, Jung, and others, Glaser shows how psychology has been ambivalent about the subject of compassion, and therefore has developed no methodology for helping individuals cultivate this essential quality. As a remedy, Glaser introduces the Buddhist practice of the lojong, expressed in the text of The Seven Points of Mind Training, for developing love and compassion. She focuses on four major points: compassion for self; compassion for others; exchanging self and others; and no self and no other. She illustrates these with modern-day life examples, affirming that these points are indeed attainable. If we make the effort to contemplate, understand, and truly integrate these four essentials, we will have a sound basis for both psychological health and genuine transformation.



Call to Compassion, Aura Glaser, Nicolas-Hays, Paperback, 2005, 256 Pages, $16.95

Aura Glaser is an author, psychologist, photographer, and dharma coyote. After decades of deep immersion as student and teacher in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, she is no longer affiliated with a particular tradition. Her website is www.auraglaser.com.

Contents:

Acknowledgments
Foreword xi

Introduction 3 (8) PART I: THE JOURNEY TO A SELF THAT INCLUDES OTHERS

Chapter 1. A Psychology of Compassion

Chapter 2. The Literature of Compassion: 23 (32)

Chapter 3. Sigmund Freud: Traversing the 55 (26)

Chapter 4. Carl Jung: The Courage to Be 81 (30) Oneself

PART II: REFRAMING THE DIALOGUE Chapter 5. A Call to Compassion: The Way of 111(44) Transformation

Chapter 6. Answering the Call: The Alchemy of 155(48) the Heart

Chapter 7. Distilling the Essence

203(6) Appendix
209(3) Notes
212(15) Bibliography
227(9) Index
236(6) About the Author
242