Close-up panoramic view of white cherry blossoms with pink centers against a bright blue sky.

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 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 course

Spring 2026 online 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.

Tuesdays, May 5 - June 23, 2026 · 12PM - 2PM ET

Check this course in your local time

Your browser time zone will appear here once this section loads.

First class

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

12:00 PM EDT - 2:00 PM EDT

Final class

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

12:00 PM EDT - 2:00 PM EDT

Weekly sessions stay at 12:00 PM EDT - 2:00 PM EDT in your time zone during this course.

Course schedule source: Tuesdays, May 5 - June 23, 2026, 12 PM - 2 PM ET.

Click below to learn more and/or register

spring 2026 compassion cultivation training

Stay in Touch

Sign up to learn about upcoming compassion events with Laura and receive occasional updates.

We respect your privacy.

Questions? Please contact Laura Banks.