From crisis to compassion

What is exciting is that scientists can now demonstrate what the Dalai Lama says about the essential nature of human beings. Iacoboni's research on mirror neurons, indicates that monkey's brains fire the same way – whether they are drinking a glass of water, or watching a fellow monkey drinking a glass of water. Iacoboni and other scientists have concluded that mirror neurons explain our human ability to empathise with others. Like all scientific research, this discovery is under scrutiny, however, whether or not these are our "empathy" neurons or not, the fact remains we know we are able to feel what others are feeling and there must be a neurobiological component.

Of course we can all think of examples where humans have outwardly failed to demonstrate compassion and instead have raped and killed others in the name of genocide and other harmful acts. The world over we can, however, see that for every act of war there is at least an equal and opposite act of peace and love. It really depends on what the individual and the society they live in, value, promote and accept.

Learning compassion

So what does all this mean? We are innately compassionate beings. We have the biological capacity to feel what others are feeling. How do we then bridge the gap between the compassion we feel for those we love and the compassion we often do not feel for those that harm or wrong us?

The Dalai Lama says mental training. Helen Weng, under the guidance of Richard Davidson at Harvard Medical School, has evidence to supports His Holiness' assertion. Their team found that: ½ hour / day of compassionate meditation training for 2 weeks increased feelings of compassion, which led to changes in brain activity, and increases in helping behaviour.

Exciting research, although what does it mean for you, and me? Even with the best of intentions, how many of us are going to try compassionate meditation training for two weeks?

The good news is that increases in compassion are also witnessed with much shorter interventions. A variety of studies indicate that, in as little as 40 seconds to 5 minutes, a compassion induction can increase levels of an antibody, reduce anxiety, increase positive perceptions, and increase perceived self-other similarity (related to the provision of care, increased empathetic responding, and acts of trust and cooperation). Even in conflict situations, people can be influenced to be more compassionate in just over a minute.

It does not take much to breed compassion, even in times of crisis, and its influence has profound effects. Isn't it time we all purposefully learn to be more compassionate and spread compassion around? It doesn't take much.

We only need one mantra – Compassion!

Try it next time your partner is late, when someone at work makes a mistake, the driver in front of you cuts you off, you ring your mobile phone provider and it takes 30 minutes to resolve a simple problem or your child is crying when you have a headache.

Even better still give up a seat on the bus for a stranger, pay for someone's coffee and walk away, forgive someone who has harmed you as soon as you can, teach your children to be compassionate or join community groups that promote such values.

Small acts with minimal effort can dramatically improve your own and others' quality of life. Spread compassion today!