Compassion as a radical 21st Century Movement: What is a compassionate city?

 

 

I can’t do better than let Karen Armstrong describe compassionate cities and communities in her own emotionally charged words:

“A compassionate city is an uncomfortable city. A city that is uncomfortable when anyone is homeless or hungry. Uncomfortable if every child isn’t loved and given rich opportunities to grow and thrive. Uncomfortable when as a community we don’t treat our neighbors as we would wish to be treated.”

Ref: https://charterforcompassion.org

Pic re shared courtesy: www.grupopunarbhav.com

Compassion as a radical 21st century movement:The Golden Rule - Compassion

Karen Armstrong, who won the 2008 Ted prize and dreamed up the Charter for Compassion, sums up  the golden rule of compassion: “Look into your own heart, discover what it is that gives you pain and then refuse, under any circumstances whatsoever, to inflict that pain on anybody else.” The Charter for Compassion has grown into a movement for compassionate communities and cities across the globe. We are one world. We behave as if we’re separate, autonomous entities.  Our affection and concern is limited to a small circle of family, friends and ‘others.’  This is our mental and emotional prison, our ‘Maya jaal.’ Loving our children and families is right and natural but we need to broaden our circle of sympathy and open our hearts to the broader community. We need to make the 21st century a century of   dialogue and peace.

(https://www.charterforcompassion.org)

Pic re shared courtesy: www.etsy.com