Medicine and Compassion: A Tibetan Lama's Guidance for Caregivers

by Chokyi Nyima, David R. Shlim (With), Harvey Fineberg (Foreword)

Sure to be welcomed by caregivers of all types, the groundbreaking new Medicine and Compassion can help anyone reconnect with the true spirit required for helping others through illness. In a clear and very modern voice, Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche and Dr. David R. Shlim use the teachings of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy to present practical tools for revitalizing the caring spirit. Readers, in turn, will find their patience, kindness, and effectiveness re-energized. Offering practical advice on dealing with people who are angry at their medical conditions or their care providers, people who are dying, or the families of those who are critically ill, Medicine and Compassion will strike resonant cords with medical professionals, hospice workers, teachers and parents of children with special needs, and those caring for aging and infirm loved ones.

Genres: Buddhism, Medicine, Health, Spirituality

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche (Tib.: chos kyi nyi ma), the eldest son of H.E. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, is held to be the seventh incarnation of the yogi Gar Drubchen, an emanation of Nāgārjuna.

Reviews

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a charming little volume! I loved it as a primer to Buddhism, which I've been introduced to in bits and pieces but this gave a really lovely overview, and was especially valuable in the discussion of practicing healthcare.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book to anyone who is in healthcare and interested in mindfulness and/or Buddhism. It is something in between an introduction to Tibetan Buddhism and a how-to of mindfullness in medicine, a curated list of struggles and questions clinicians might face, followed by 'here's an answer Buddhism would provide.' The advice is not really about specific techniques, so much as better ways of looking at things. One of my favorite take-away points was that you can't expect to put on a compassion/customer service game-face, people are emotionally intelligent and they know through your tone and body language if you're not with them. Like many points made by Chokyi Rinpoche, it's obvious and I agree completely once I've read it, but I realize I've also fooled myself before in thinking I could get away with 'acting' compassionate.
I'm ex-religious and quite averse to proselytizing, I've also tried meditating only a handful of times despite being intrested in mindfullness. I found Rinpoche's unassuming, socratic, explain-it-like-you're-a-fifth-grader style to be accesible yet challenging in a good way.

[Negin Mallahzadeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming book to learn intuitive compassion. I can definitely come back to my highlights to remind myself of how to exercise compassion. Practicing medicine with compassion is not always easy. This book is a great reminder on how to incorporate more compassion into healthcare.

Apart from using this book for better medical care; I truest enjoyed the understanding of death. In a couple of chapters it explains how important it is for us to remember that we must die and prevent death to be an ultimate shock.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often recommend this book to people who are interested in helping others, whether as caregivers or for one's own self. My only wish is that it would be available as an ebook or audio. One lesson I've learned from it is that I can do what I need to do.

[Kc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas and theory about how to develop your "limitless compassion" for patients and others in your life, but I would have appreciated a little more practical advice.