Compassion: the Crazy Wisdom of Jesus
Buddha and Other Agents of Transformation

The Buddha taught that compassion was the agent of genuine transformation in the world. Likewise Jesus taught us that love was the agent of transformation. On closer examination the love that Jesus talked of was more akin to the ideas of compassion than many of the contemporary ideas of love that often trivialize one of the most profound of human experiences. But were Jesus and the Buddha always compassionate?

During this workshop participants will explore Stephen Gilligan's three faces or archetypal energies of compassion: Tenderness, Fierceness, and Mischievousness, and see how an ability to express all three is necessary if we are to be agents of transformation in our society.

Unlike many linear or incremental forms of change, transformation usually involves a radical change of perspective or awareness and is often preceded by a period of confusion. Using a variety of appreciative inquiry based approaches participants will have the opportunity to discover their own experience of each face of compassion and how to use them to elicit and manage confusion to facilitate transformation in those to whom they minister and serve.

Day-Long Schedule

• 9:00 a.m.  Introduction to the nature of transformation
• 9:45 a.m.  The three faces of compassion
• 10:30 a.m. Break
• 10:45 a.m. Developing Tenderness
• 12:00 p.m. Lunch
• 1:00 p.m.  Developing Fierceness
• 2:45 p.m.  Break
• 3:00 p.m.  Developing Mischievousness
• 4:00 p.m.  Putting it all together as agents of transformation
• 4:30 p.m.  Conclusion and Evaluation

Learning Objectives

• To understand the difference between incremental and transformational change
• To gain in self-understanding of the three faces of compassion and how the participant uniquely manifests each face.
• To learn how to utilize the three faces of compassion to elicit and manage confusion to facilitate transformation in those to whom they minister.

About the Presenter: Robert J. Voyle, Psy.D.

Dr. Rob Voyle is an Episcopal priest, executive coach, licensed psychologist, and mechanical engineer. He has a doctorate in clinical psychology and degrees in theology and mechanical engineering. Rob is the Director of the Clergy Leadership Institute and is an international leader in the area of appreciative inquiry training for clergy, coaches, and church leaders.

Rob is the principal author of Core Elements of the Appreciative Way, An Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry for Daily Living and Yes!³ Creating a life in which you can say Yes! to God, Yes! to your neighbor, and Yes! to yourself.

The Appreciative Way is Rob's blend of Appreciative Inquiry, Contemplative Spirituality and the change work of Milton Erickson. The "appreciative way" contrasts many of the "pathology reducing" or "problem solving" approaches to personal and organizational development which, while engaged in with positive intention, often result in negative spirals of enfeeblement rather liberating generative solutions.

Rob's purpose in life is to be "helpful, humorous and healing." He brings heart, wit, and passion to his training and presentations. He is a gifted storyteller and has a penchant for mischievously confronting learners with new insights that are both affirming and liberating.

Program Formats

In addition to a day long format this program can be adapted as a series of presentations over several days or offered in a brief, one hour introductory format.

To schedule this program please contact Rob Voyle.