Compassion, Spirituality and Human Longevity

Ira Pastor, ideaXme life sciences ambassador and founder of Bioquark, interviews Dr. Thupten Jinpa, Ph.D. the Founder and Chairman of Compassion Institute, and the principal author of Compassion Cultivation Training.

Ira Pastor comments:

“Compassion” is broadly defined as sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others, involves allowing ourselves to be both 1) moved by the suffering and 2) experience the motivation to help alleviate and prevent it.

Dr. Thupten Jinpa

Dr. Thupten Jinpa, Ph.D. the Founder and Chairman of Compassion Institute, and the principal author of Compassion Cultivation Training, the Institute’s flagship compassion education offering, developed while Dr. Jinpa was at Stanford University, which integrates insights and techniques from psychology, neuroscience, and contemplative practice.

Dr Thupten Jinpa, founder of Compassion Institute
Dr Thupten Jinpa founder Compassion Institute. Photo Credit: Lion’s Roar

Dr. Jinpa trained as a monk at the Shartse College of Ganden Monastic University, South India, where he received the Geshe Lharam degree. Jinpa also holds a B.A. in philosophy and a Ph.D. in religious studies, both from Cambridge University.

Dr Thupten Jinpa an HH Dalai Lama
Dr Thupten Jinpa and HH Dalai Lama. Photo Credit: Stanford University.

Dr. Jinpa is also extremely well known for his public role as being the principal English translator to His Holiness The Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, since 1985, and has translated and collaborated on numerous books by the Dalai Lama including the New York Times Bestsellers “Ethics for the New Millennium” and “The Art of Happiness“, as well as “Towards a True Kinship of Faiths: How the World’s Religions Can Come Together.

Dr. Jinpa’s own publications include works in Tibetan, English translations of classical Tibetan texts, and books, “Self, Reality, and Reason in Tibetan Philosophy,” “Dispelling the Darkness: A Jesuit’s Quest for the Soul of Tibet” and “A Fearless Heart: How the Courage to be Compassionate Can Transform Our Lives.” Dr. Jinpa’s latest book is “Tsongkhapa: A Buddha in the Land of Snows,” a modern biography of one of Tibet’s greatest masters released in November for the 600th anniversary of his nirvana.

A frequent speaker at various international conferences on mindfulness, compassion, and contemplative practice, Dr. Jinpa also serves as an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Religious Studies at McGill University, Montreal and is the founder and president of the Institute of Tibetan Classics. He has been a core member of the Mind and Life Institute and its Chairman of the Board since January 2012.

On this ideaXme episode, we will hear from Dr. Jinpa about:

His background and career. The definition of compassion and how it is connected to happiness. About Compassion Cultivation Training. The application of compassion meditation towards intervention in chronic pain and stress reduction. About the application of compassion meditation towards improving longevity/healthspan. The Dalai Lama’s views on fighting Coronavirus with Compassion. About the Dalai Lama’s thoughts on transhumanist topics such as Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and Aging/Life Extension.

This interview is in American English

Ira Pastor, Life Sciences Ambassador
Ira Pastor, ideaXme life sciences ambassador

Credits: Ira Pastor interview video, text, and audio.

Follow Ira Pastor on Twitter: @IraSamuelPastor

If you liked this interview, be sure to check out our interview on death, dying, and dreams!

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One thought on “Compassion, Spirituality and Human Longevity

  1. Clayton Micallef says:

    Someone posted this on Reddit really grateful I clicked on the link and listening to this talk we need more compassion in the world and return to the golden rule of all religions to be kind towards each other and practice non-harm 🙂

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