“Think back to a moment when someone offered you genuine kindness or made you feel safe. Settle into that memory. What emotions arise? What sensations do you notice in your body?”
This reflection is one of the ways Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) invites us to reconnect with our innate capacity for compassion. It is a gentle reminder that compassion is not foreign to the human experience - it is something we can intentionally nurture and deepen.
At the Charter for Compassion, we are committed to offering programs that are deeply aligned with our mission to cultivate compassion in action across all sectors of society. We are honored to have offered the Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) course, developed at Emory University, to the first cohort of our global community.
Rooted in contemplative science, CBCT offers a profound framework for cultivating compassion in a structured, systematic way. This eight module training is grounded on the understanding that compassion is not a fixed trait but a skill that can be strengthened through practice.
CBCT Modules
- Overview & Module 1: Connecting to a Moment of Nurturance
- Module 2: Developing Stable and Clear Attention
- Module 3: Enhancing Self-Awareness
- Module 4: Cultivating Self-Compassion Part I
- Module 5: Cultivating Self-Compassion Part II
- Module 6: Expanding Our Circle of Concern
- Module 7: Deepening Gratitude and Tenderness
- Module 8: Harnessing the Power of Compassion
The CBCT journey begins by helping participants to calm and stabilize the inner workings of the mind, strengthening a deeper presence with themselves and others. From this foundation of clarity, the training gently guides participants to observe how they relate to their experiences and how their perceptions shape interactions with the world. As we move through each module, we are invited to reflect on our shared humanity, recognize our deep interdependence, and open our hearts to both the joys and struggles we all face. Through this growing awareness, compassion naturally unfolds, nourishing empathy and meaningful action.
In a world marked by uncertainty, and growing division, compassion is more necessary than ever. CBCT equips participants with tools to build emotional resilience, cultivate empathetic connections, and respond to personal and global suffering with wisdom and care. It helps individuals meet life with greater clarity, courage, and compassion. This training encourages us to slow down, connect more deeply with ourselves and others, and intentionally strengthen our capacity for compassion in everyday life.
Facilitating this course through the Charter felt like a natural extension of our mission to cultivate compassion in action. The practices and reflections within CBCT mirror the heart of our vision - where individuals and communities commit to empathy, interconnectedness, and compassionate action.
We were deeply moved by the honesty and courage of our participants. Their journeys reminded us that compassion is not only a personal practice but a powerful collective force. And when we nurture it together, transformation becomes possible within ourselves, and in the world we’re building together.
We are grateful for the opportunity to offer CBCT at the Charter for Compassion. We invite you to look out for our future CBCT offerings as we continue to support pathways that encourage compassionate action.
- Merida McCarthy & Anum Mulla
