Full Program - Karen Armstrong Public Lecture

Simon Fraser University's Centre for Dialogue presents world-renowned author and 2008 TED Prize recipient Karen Armstrong for her feature lecture, "What is Religion?" and inaugural "State of the Charter for Compassion Address". The lecture and address took place on March 22, 2012. It was hosted by Simon Fraser University's Centre for Dialogue in partnership with the Charter for Compassion, TED Prize, and Greater Vancouver Compassion Network.
This event took place as part of 12 Days of Compassion, a Vancouver-wide conversation on compassion built around the SFU Jack P. Blaney Award for Dialogue. Armstrong's visit reached thousands of participants and generated 5500 person-hours in programming to discuss the role of compassion in the lives and communities of participants. The visit also resulted in the formation of 61 book clubs, where 600 members read and discussed Armstrong's book, Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life.
Armstrong is considered one of the world's most thought-provoking and original public thinkers on the role of religion in historical and contemporary life. Her poignant writing and captivating talks have sparked worldwide debate and respectful dialogue.
In 2008, Armstrong was awarded the TED Prize in support of her call for a council of religious and spiritual leaders to draw up a Charter for Compassion. That document is now endorsed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama, and has accumulated more than 85,000 supporters worldwide.

[@mmmzmz]

Thinking about others and doing good deeds for them brought me only pain and disappointments. Since I've been thinking and caring about myself first and only about myself, I've become much happier. So much about religion.

[@Madmen604]

charity begins at home and you need boundaries, once you are secure in your own value and self love, then you develop the capacity for loving others. Taking care of self is a good thing, you are worth it. Just do to others what you would have them to or for you.

[@papasitoman]

22:08

[@Madmen604]

OK, but a compassion requires a social shift, requires us to re-construct the terms of dignity and suffering; calling for radical action. There are no fast track easy solutions, like eugenics and euthanasia. We need to challenge the extreme depersonalization and neglect in Canadian health care systems, for example. We need to privilege life affirming social policy and personal action surrounding issues like hyper consumerism, palliative care, inclusion. Compassion isn't a platitude or a fad.