Published on the occasion of exhibitions Bracha L. Ettinger: Resonance/Overlay/Interweave held June 3-July, 26, 2009 at Freud Museum, London; Bracha L. Ettinger: Fragilisation and Resistance held Aug. 21-Aug. 31, 2009 at Kuvataideakatemia (The Finnish Academy of Fine Arts), Helsinki; and Alma Matrix: Bracha L. Ettinger and Ria Verhaeghe held May 13-Aug. 1, 2010 at Fundaciao Antoni Taapies, Barcelona.

'Compassion, A Paradox in Art and Society', is developed in close collaboration with artist Rini Hurkmans, initiator of the conceptual art work 'the Flag of Compassion'. The book aims to show what space an artwork can occupy in the public domain, and in a network of philosophical notions, art theory, societal institutions, collective identity formation and individual experience. Through its hybrid character it wants to form a case study for a new form of art analysis. Simultaneously, it deals with the social effectivity of art and questions how art nowadays can be relevant on a social and political level.

"The Art And Science Of Compassion. A Primer is designed as a short, "all-in-one", introductory text that covers the full gamut of compassion, from the evolutional, biological, behavioural, and psychological, to the social, philosophical, and spiritual. Written with busy trainees, clinicians, and educators in mind, it aims to address the following questions: What is compassion? Is it innate or a trainable skill? What do different scientific disciplines, including neuroscience, tell us about compassion? Why is "compassion fatigue" a misnomer? What are the obstacles to compassion? Why are burnout, moral suffering, and bullying so rampant in healthcare? And finally, what does it take to cultivate compassion? Drawing on her diverse background as a clinician, scientist, educator, and chaplain, Dr. Wong presents a wealth of scientific evidence supporting that compassion is both innate and trainable. By interleaving personal experiences and reflections, she shares her insights on what it takes to cultivate compassion to support the art of medicine and caregiving. The training described draws on both contemplative and scientific disciplines to help clinicians develop cognitive, attentional, affective, and somatic skills that are critical for the cultivation of compassion. Compassion not only benefits the recipients, produces better patient care, and improves the healthcare system, it is also a boundless source of energy, resilience, and wellness for the givers. With striking illustrations for key concepts and a concise summary for each chapter, this book provides a solid conceptual framework and practical approaches to cultivate compassion. It serves to complement the experiential component of compassion that the readers are strongly encouraged to develop and practise in their daily lives"--

‘Omoiyari is a form of selfless compassion – putting yourself in the shoes of others, and from their perspective anticipating their needs, acting in a way that might make them at ease, happy or comfortable.’

Now in paperback, this practical guide to cultivating compassion delivers Buddhist and psychological insight right where we need it most—navigating the difficulties of our daily lives. Compassion is often seen as a distant, altruistic ideal cultivated by saints, or as an unrealistic response of the naively kind-hearted. Seeing compassion in this way, we lose out on experiencing the transformative potential of one of our most neglected inner resources. Dr Lorne Ladner rescues compassion from this marginalised view, showing how its practical application in our life can be a powerful force in achieving happiness. Combining the wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism and Western psychology, Ladner presents clear, effective practices for cultivating compassion in daily living.

Neuroscience meets Buddhist wisdom in this “wise guide” offering 5 key skills for developing mindful self-compassion—and becoming your own best advocate (Tara Brach, author of Radical Acceptance). We all long for someone to offer us unconditional love and support. But what if that person is us? The practice of mindful self-compassion creates the space we need so that observation, acceptance, and real love can enter—no matter how judgmental or disconnected we may feel. It sounds like a simple idea: to be kind to yourself. But if you pay attention to your thoughts, habits, and self-talk, you may find that it’s more difficult than it sounds. The intentional practice of self-compassion, outlined here by Buddhist scholar and teacher, Bodhipaksa, can help you find greater overall wellbeing, emotional resilience, physical health, and willpower. Bodhipaksa provides both the why and the how of mindful self-compassion, drawing on contemporary psychology and neuroscience and also on Buddhist psychology, weaving the modern and ancient together into a coherent whole. Contemporary psychologists are focusing less on self-esteem and more on self-compassion. Bodhipaksa, a practicing meditator of more than 30 years, effortlessly blends ancient techniques dating back to the time of the Buddha with the most recent understanding of psychology and neuroscience. And in the end, as Bodhipaksa writes, it is actually quite simple: “Life is short. Be kind.”