COMPASSION WEEK 2020
We are excited about our upcoming weeklong community celebration of cultivating compassion in Houston. Participate in our “Daily Dose of Compassion.” Join brief, live virtual interfaith readings and reflections of the Charter for Compassion by 24 members of our diverse partner organizations. After viewing an on-demand video at your leisure by Dr. James Doty, Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) and Dr. Sean Fitzpatrick, The Jung Center of Houston, Texas, take an active part in a Live Zoom Q&A with the two teachers. And finally, follow an hourlong event brought to you by the Gandhi Museum's 1000 Lights for Peace ceremony.
A Compassion Week of sharing, reflecting, engaging, healing, and celebrating our interconnection. We are delighted to have you join us!
How to participate
Come back each day of Compassion Week and receive links to our Daily Dose of Compassion activities, reflections, poems, and Charter Readings (the latter one at different times for ease in attending). In addition, a daily newsletter goes out to our subscribers during the week of October 12-18. Not a subscriber? Click here to receive our news and updates on programs and events.
Each day is dedicated to cultivating basic human values for the purpose of increasing individual, social and environmental flourishing, covered in-depth in the Compassionate Integrity Training program. See the full schedule below.
Featured Event:
The Revolutionary Power of Empathy and Compassion. A Conversation on Healing.
We are thrilled to offer you a special event this year, a thought-provoking and heartfelt conversation on Compassionate Healing between Dr. James Doty with CCARE and Sean Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, The Jung Center Houston.
The full-length video will be released on Monday, 10/12.
We invite you to watch the conversation which serves as a basis for the live Question and Answer session with Doty and Fitzpatrick on Friday, 10/16 @ 7:30pm.
Please register to receive your Zoom link, which gives you access to the video as well a live Q&A on Friday. See Sean’s invitation and RSVP link below.
Full Schedule
Monday, October 12 - Theme: Mindful
Daily Poem: Allow by Danna Faulds
Daily Action: How Mindfulness Empowers Us - Give it a try!
Daily Contemplation: 11-minute Body Scan
Daily Charter Reading Team 12:00pm Noon
Cherry Steinwender, Executive Director, The Center for the Healing of Racism
Martin Cominsky, President and CEO, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston
Michael Gott, Senior Minister, Unity of Houston
Jennifer Kapral, Director of Education and Outreach, Asia Society
Video Release: The Revolutionary Power of Empathy and Compassion. A Conversation on Healing with James Doty MD and Sean Fitzpatrick PhD.
Tuesday, October 13 - Theme: EMOTIONALLY AWARE
Daily Poem: The Journey by Mary Oliver
Daily Action: Affirmation Letter to Self
Daily Contemplation: Morning Affirmation
Daily Charter Reading Team 12:00pm Noon
Sravana Borkataky-Varma, Ph.D., Co-Founder, LumenTree Portal
Rabbi Dan Gordon, Temple Beth Torah
The Rev. Gena Davis, Founder and President, YogaMass, Inc.
Stuart Nelson, Vice-President, Institute for Spirituality and Health
Wednesday, October 14 - Theme: grateful
Daily Poetic Reflection: Gratitude by David Whyte
Daily Action: Appreciating Another
Daily Contemplation: The Short Film by Louie Schwartzberg
Daily Charter Reading Team 9:00am
Alejandro Chaoul, Ph.D., Director, The Jung Center's Mind Body Spirit Institute
Atul B. Kothari, Trustee and Founder, Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston
Neal Sarahan, Ph.D., Executive Director, NAMI Greater Houston
Alex McDonald, Associate Clerk, Live Oak Friends Meeting
Thursday, October 15 - Theme: TOGEther human
Daily Poem: Gate A4 by Naomi Shihab Nye
Daily Action: Just Like Me Awareness With Short Video
Daily Contemplation: Just Like Me Meditation
Daily Charter Reading Team 10:00am
Murad Ajani, President, Aga Khan Council for the Southwestern United States (F)
Ashley Clemmer, Director of Programs and Community Engagement, Rothko Chapel
Andi Cook, Just Serve Specialist, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Debleena Banerji, Tagore Society of Houston
friday, October 16 - Theme: Empathetic/Kind
Daily Poem: Lasting Kindness by Rumi
Daily Action: The Kindest Thing I Have Done For Another
Daily Contemplation: Loving Kindness Meditation
Daily Charter Reading Team 12:00pm Noon
Rev. Dr. Bill Kerley, Associate Pastor, Ordinary Life, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church (F)
Ginger Clarkson, Community Dharma Leader, Insight Meditation Houston
The Rev. Kathy Rock Pfister, Canon Vicar, Christ Church Cathedral
Sheryl Callahan, President and CEO, Brazos Presbyterian Homes
7:30pm Special Event: Live Q&A with James Doty, MD and Sean Fitzpatrick, PhD on: The Revolutionary Power of Empathy and Compassion. A Conversation on Healing.
Saturday, October 17 - Theme: we depend on each other
Daily Poem: Human Family by Maya Angelou
Daily Action: Is This Really Just a Shirt?
Daily Contemplation: Reflection on Interdependence
Daily Charter Reading Team 2:00pm
Harvey Aronson, Ph.D., Resident and Founding Teacher, Dawn Mountain (F)
The Rev. Scott Painter, Grace Episcopal Church
Gwen Brehm, Executive Director, Center for Mind-Body Health
Becky Dodds, Host and Circle Coordinator, Healing Circles Houston
Sunday, October 18 - 1000 Lights for Peace 6:00pm to 7:30PM
Join our partner, the Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston for an hour-long international dance and music show, celebrating peace and non-violence.
Keynote speaker Professor Emeritus Michael Nagler, UC Berkeley. Chief Guest Mayor Sylvester Turner. Guest of Honor Hon General Consul of India Aseem A. Mahajan
All Compassion Week offerings are freely given from us to you, including the live and on-demand streaming of Dr. Doty and Sean Fitzpatrick's interview and Q&A session. If you are inclined to donate to our mission of cultivating Houston's compassionate culture, your generosity is deeply appreciated!