The Compassion Based Living Course (CBLC)

This an eight-week programme developed by the Mindfulness Association and is designed as a follow-on course from their Mindfulness Based Living Course (MBLC).

The CBLC is also suitable for anyone who has completed a similar eight-week mindfulness programme, such as Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), or Breathworks, as well as those with an established mindfulness meditation practice.

The aim of this secular course is to develop an inner resource of positive emotions, self-compassion, and kindness. Through mindfulness and compassion practices, participants learn to recognise and work skilfully with the inner critic – that persistent voice that often judges, criticises, or finds fault. By cultivating qualities such as generosity, empathy, courage, and inner strength, it becomes possible to develop a kinder and more supportive relationship with oneself

As the course progresses, participants learn to extend feelings of warmth, acceptance, and compassion beyond themselves, fostering a deeper sense of connection with others and the wider world

Building on an established mindfulness practice, the course encourages these qualities to grow through guided compassion practices, visualisations, group discussion, reflection, and short teachings

The programme draws on the insights of Mahayana Buddhist psychology, the neuroscience research of Dr. Rick Hanson, the evolutionary psychology work of Prof. Paul Gilbert, and the compassion-focused work of Dr. Kristin Neff, Dr. Christopher Germer, and Pema Chödrön

There's an introductory session before the course begins and a follow-up session one month after the course has ended. A full Day of Mindfulness Compassion Practice is also included between Weeks 6 and 7, providing an opportunity to deepen and integrate learning

The weekly themes are:

• Introductory Session - What is Compassion?
• Week 1 - Why Practice Compassion?
• Week 2 - The Compassionate Mess
• Week 3 - It's Not Our Fault - An Evolutionary Perspective
• Week 4 - Creating Conditions of Safeness
• Week 5 - Befriending the Self-Critic
• Week 6 - Finding the Compassionate Friend Within
• Day of Practice
• Week 7 - The Four Immeasurable qualities
• Week 8 - Compassion for others - Tonglen
• Follow-Up Sessions - Revisiting Tonglen and the rest of your life

Each session includes guided practices, teaching and discussion, group reflection and enquiry. Participants receive a comprehensive course book and access to the Mindfulness Association’s app with guided meditations to support home practice

Course Fee:

£210