The Compassionate Mind (Compassion Focused Therapy)

by Paul A. Gilbert

Within Buddhism, ‘compassion’ and ‘kindness’ have different meanings: • Metta is loving kindness or friendly care, which is an orientation to self and others. • Mudita is appreciating and taking joy from being alive ‘in this moment’ (e.g. the colours of clouds, a rainbow or sunset, the taste of food). It also refers to ‘sympathetic joy’ – joy from the well-being of others. It is the wellspring of peaceful well-being. • Karuna is compassion that involves ethical behaviour, patience and generosity with action. • Upekkha is equanimity and a sense of connectedness/similarity to other humans and all living things – that all seek happiness and none seeks suffering, that we are all the same in our struggles in life.