Compassion. Its an action of little effort with impacts that reverberate far beyond that singular moment.

From brightening up a strangers day to clinching a dream business deal thanks to an authentic connection, empathy often creates overwhelmingly positive ripples. Yet it often feels increasingly distant in our modern world.

So, why dont we give compassion the credit and attention it deserves?

Thats what Thupten Jinpa, a Cambridge University alumni, author of A Fearless Heart, longtime translator to the Dalai Lama, and former Tibetan monk wondered.

Thupten Jinpa

With a lifetime immersed in Buddhist philosophies, Jinpa inherently knew there were more perks to compassion than morality alone. But also as a scholar, he wanted to prove it through science.

Jinpa worked alongside Stanford University to design an 8-week course calledCompassion Cultivation Training (CCT).Now offered worldwide, CCT teaches students practical, evidence-based methods of integrating empathy and compassion into their everyday lives. So far, theyve guided everyone from school teachers to CEOs to Silicon Valley police chiefs on instilling conscious empathy.

He also established a nonprofit called the Compassion Institute. Here, Jinpa and his colleagues study the physical and psychological benefits behind mindful, compassionate living.

The more we can live consciously, Jinpa says, the happier we are.

Building a Life of Compassion

Before emerging as a leader in compassionate studies, Thupten Jinpa was a young Tibetan refugee growing up in India. And, it was actually as a child that he first met the Dalai Lama.

The legendary spiritual luminary visited Jinpas boarding school, which was run by Tibetan Buddhist monks. During this visit, the then six-year-old Jinpa was chosen to hold the Dalai Lamas hand and walk alongside him during his stay. Though he knew this man was an important figure, Jinpa didnt fully understand just how so.

I just knew he was my boss boss, Jinpa laughs.

Still, its hard not to think that this early bond somehow guided his future pathespecially since he soon adamantly wanted to become a monk himself.

Aside from his interaction with the Dalai Lama, Jinpa was also enthralled with the monks he regularly saw around him. As an incredibly bright, yet academically bored, student, Jinpa loved the intellectual debates that were commonplace within the monastic order.

There was also an undeniable aura that drew the boy in. They all looked radiant, he says. There was a level of serenity that you don't see in ordinary peoples faces.

So, despite his own fatherwho was a monk himselfbeing against his son joining a monastery, Jinpas strong will won out. At just eleven, he became a Tibetan Buddhist monka role hed remain in for the next eleven years. Those years were probably the best years of my life, Jinpa recalls. It was just amazing.

For the first time I was able to plunge into what inspired me. It was intellectually stimulating. My colleagues were very impressive. The combination of practice, intellectual scholarship, self-study, retreats, and debate...It was just perfect.

It was also during this time that Jinpa reconnected with the Dalai Lama who was seeking a one-off substitute for his regular English translator. With a reputation for his solid grasp of the language, Jinpa was given the opportunity. When people were taken aback by his talent, he was given the role full-time.

Since then, 1985 to be exact, Jinpa has worked closely with the Dalai Lama as they travel the globe to spread his message of peace, kindness and compassionthree things at the core of Tibetan Buddhism.

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, there's a whole mythology of compassion, Jinpa says. If people talk about the attributes of individuals, compassion is seen as the best.

He also began realizing how radical the Dalai Lamas teachings were. Though no doubt rooted in Buddhist traditions, he ingeniously adapts his wisdom so its consumable within the secular, mainstream world.

He genuinely believes that theres something in the mental training techniques that the Buddhist traditions have developed, and that they can be adapted, says Jinpa. Basically, if it touches upon the fundamental human experiencehuman lifethen it should be translatable.

After years of inspiration by the Dalai Lama, Jinpa began feeling called towards a purpose beyond life as a monk. Two years of contemplation later, he decided to leave the monastic life behind in pursuit of higher educationand an opportunity to teach the value of compassion to a greater audience.

Though the change didnt necessarily mean hed have to leave his role as translator, Jinpa was still nervous to let his boss know. But as youd likely expect, the Dalai Lama showed nothing but grace.

He responded, Jinpa recalls, I would be lying if I said that I'm not saddened by your decision, and for the monastic community to lose someone of your caliber. But, I've known you for a long time and I know you did not make this decision lightly.

So, with the Dalai Lamas blessingand a scholarship to Cambridge University to study philosophy and religious studiesJinpa began a path as an advocate for a more practical, universal, and academic understanding of compassion.

The Science of Compassion

If compassion is so integral to humanity, why does it seem to be lacking within modern society?

As part of his studies at Cambridge, work with the Compassion Institute, and beyond, Jinpas made it his mission to explore and promote the fascinating intersection of psychology, philosophy, neuroscience, and kindness.

Alongside a team of scientists, psychologists, and even the Dalai Lama himself, Jinpa and his team have been analyzing the merits of mindful compassion for yearsand what theyve learned has been illuminating.

The beauty of learning to extend empathy beyond the normal circle is that even though you may have difficulties with another person, says Jinpa, your handling of that relationship never lets you forget the humanity of the other person.

That gives you tremendous stability and strength.

In life, we often dont have a choice in what happens. However, we do have a choice in how we respond. This is why the teachings of mindfulness and compassion are so powerful, he says. Mindfulness gives us the ability to take a step back and recognize our choices.

Though recognizing the humanity within everyone positively affects us and others within nearly every aspect of life, just imagine the benefits within the workplace alone.

Whether were the intern, the CEO, or the client, we all have flaws, strengths, histories, and motivations. By both acknowledging each others humanity, we can often reach an authentic, effective solution faster than ever.

Jinpas especially seeing workplace benefits within the healthcare industryan industry fraught with stress and burnoutand often lacking in compassion when people need it most.

Not only do physicians, nurses and other medical professionals deserve empathy for their too-often unappreciated laborso do the patients who are treated everyday. In fact, studies are showing that compassion makes patients feel better both emotionally and physically.

Jinpa points to various studies showing that, on average, it took physicians only forty seconds of compassion to make a marked difference on a patients overall well-being and decrease physician burnout.

By taking the short amount of time to build even a short, but genuine, relationship, both parties feel better about whatever challenges may lie ahead. At that moment, theres no doctor and patient. Instead, its just two humans working towards a mutual goalhealth.

Forty seconds can make all the difference, says Jinpa.

Were All Just Human

If compassion is such an important quality, why do humans ignore kindness?

Jinpa learned that so much of our modern culture has been molded by whats considered Darwinian evolutionary thinkingor survival of the fittest. The pursuit of self-interest is seen as the ultimate explanation of human behavior, he says.

Kindness too often gets in the way of that. With the complexities of todays concept of success, compassion often only kicks in during critical, painful or emotional moments. After all, if we dont receive compassion from others during a life-or-death situationwe die.

We too often ignore, overlook or even bury the impulse, says Jinpa. Until recently, compassion was kept within religion or morality. The Dalai Lama took it out, naturalized it, and made it part of the human experience. Now, Jinpas encouraging us all to do the same.

So, how can we all start integrating compassion into our own lives?

First off, Jinpa recommends that we think of integrating compassion into our life as a shift in perspective more than anything. Its not altering how you do things. Instead, its just viewing it all through a compassionate lens.

Its about becoming more aware about when your emotions are kicking in and being able to regulate them, he says.

He also suggests practicing awareness of your actions.

Awareness sets a certain standard for when youre confronted with a situation. Where you might be tempted to do something that is harmful, youre instead able to bring in your mindfulness training and say, Well, this is unbecoming of me. This is against my values.

That's one reason why regular contemplative practice is so powerful. It gives us the ability to bring mindfulness and awareness when it's needed.

Essentially, the more practice you have at mindfully stopping your mental impulses through methods and tools like regular meditation, the easier itll be when it matters most.

Then, when a moment emerges where youd once act impulsively without thought, youll instead stop, thinkand act with kindness.

Want to hear my entire conversation with Thupten Jinpa? You'll learn more about his life as a Tibetan Monk, the science and psychology behind compassion and kindness, how hes using compassion training to treat PTSD, what his relationship with the Dalai Lama was like, and so much more.

Listen to the entire conversation on my donothing podcast now and visit http://www.donothingbook.com for more information. Also, connect with me on Twitter and LinkedIn and keep up with my company imageOne here.

Read the rest here:
Why a Moment of Compassion Can Change Everything in Business (and Life!) - Forbes