Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00 PM, June 3-24, 2026
- Empathy is the capacity to share the feelings of others. We can feel happy when we share joy, but sharing someone’s suffering can be painful. Excessive empathy can lead to burn out. Compassion is a feeling of warmth and concern for others accompanied by an active wish to relieve their suffering. Compassion is a pleasant experience contributing to good health.
- While feelings of compassion are innate, we can refine and strengthen our compassion skills. In this compassion training we explore the difference in empathy and compassion and the importance of self-compassion. We practice techniques to switch from empathy to compassion, thereby feeling energized and inspired instead of depleted or overwhelmed
- Compassion is based on wisdom; therefore, it is essential to integrate meditation practice into compassion skills training. But this class is open to anyone: practitioners of other Buddhist tradition and people with no prior meditation experience are welcome.
- Each class includes a short presentation followed by a discussion, an opportunity for sharing experiences in a small group, and includes a 20-minute guided meditation.
Myoju Edmée Danan has been practicing Zen since 1981. Her first teacher was Robert Aitken Roshi of the Diamond Sangha on Maui, HI. After moving to California, she continued practicing with Jakusho Kwong Roshi at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center. She began studying with Jisho Warner Roshi in 1995, who authorized her to teach in April 2023. As a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, she is interested in determining when it is helpful to consider therapy to support Zen practice. She teaches meditation to both patients and health care professionals.