The book Mindful Compassion was written jointly by clinical psychologist Prof. Paul Gilbert and former Zen monk Choden, and is intended for both laymen and professionals.

The book Mindful Compassion was written jointly by clinical psychologist Prof. Paul Gilbert and former Zen monk Choden, and is intended for both laymen and professionals. It combines the scientific approach of the West with the wisdom of the East. In the first part, the authors set out to explain psychological theories in understandable language. It offers an understanding of emotional systems and the often conflicting motivations in our minds. Mindfulness can help us learn to be present and attentive to what is happening within us and around us. Cultivating compassion can lead to the alleviation of pain around us and within ourselves. The second half of the book offers practical exercises that can help develop wisdom and compassion, heal past wounds, and live more fully in connection with those around us. We cannot develop deeper levels of compassion if we are not open to compassion for ourselves.