“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.

Without them, humanity cannot survive.”

The Dalai Lama

How we respond to what happens is as much a part of our shared reality as what we cannot control.

“We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

— Viktor Frankl

Discover and train your courage to claim and live into this freedom.

Cultivate compassion.

A growing body of research in neuroscience reveals that compassion is both an innate capacity biologically rooted in our care system and a skill we can deliberately strengthen. It connects us to our deepest values and each other, revealing our shared common humanity and giving us needed clarity to navigate the challenges of life with wisdom, kindness, and humility.

If there has ever been a moment in human history when our interdependence and need for compassion are self-evident truths, it is now.

Wherever this finds you, whatever challenges you face, take good care.

May we all be well.

upcoming courses

A generous donor has offered to fund scholarships for those affected by the recent executive orders and directives in the United States for either of the Spring 2025 sessions of CCT with Laura Banks . Please contact Laura for more information.

spring 2025 in-person COMPASSION CULTIVATION TRAINING©

Compassion Cultivation Training© (CCT™) is an 8-week personal and professional development course designed at Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) and now housed at the Compassion Institute. The program includes practical tools and exercises designed to enhance your awareness, compassion, social connection, and resilience.

WASHINGTON, DC

PRESIDENT LINCOLN’S COTTAGE*

140 Rock Creek Church Road Northwest, Washington, DC 20011

sundays, march 4 - may 4, 2025 (no class March 16th)

2PM - 4PM ET

Click below to learn more and/or register

spring 2025 in-person compassion cultivation training

*Half of the registration fees collected for this in-person session will be donated to President Lincoln's Cottage, helping to preserve and protect this historic property and share the transformational power of this special space. President Lincoln’s Cottage is an independent 501(c)(3) public charity and receives no federal operating support.

spring 2025 ONLINE COMPASSION CULTIVATION TRAINING©

thursdays, march 27 - may 15, 2025 · 12PM - 2PM ET

Confirm your local time here.

Click below to learn more and/or register

spring 2025 online compassion cultivation training

As part of this online CCT class, participants who live in the United States or Canada have the option to participate in an independent research study. The study is being conducted by Dr. Clifford Saron and his colleagues at the Center for Mind and Brain at the University of California, Davis. They are investigating the effects of compassion-based training on reactions to social and emotional scenes and situations, and on interpersonal experiences in daily life.

Participation in this research is entirely optional and is not part of the online CCT class.

If you choose to participate, you will be asked to complete 3 assessments and would be compensated up to $260 USD for your time. The 3 assessments would be completed from your own home and would take place the week before your course begins, the week after your course ends, and 8 weeks after your course ends. If you are interested in learning more about the study, please follow this link to see if you are eligible to participate.

IMPORTANT: To participate in this research study, you must fully enroll in your class at least 4 days before the official class start date.

Here is the link again: https://ucdavis.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9oybhZlVu6ZIpym

INTRODUCTION TO COMPASSION CULTIVATION TRAINING©

Join one of the upcoming online Introductions to Compassion Cultivation Training© (CCTTM) and bring your questions, meet Laura, and engage in a sample meditation and exercise from CCT. These free 60-minute classes are not required to register for CCT nor is there any obligation/expectation for participants to register for the full course after attending an introduction. They are open to anyone who’s simply interested in learning more about compassion.