* Drawing on a wide range of material - ranging from the spiritual character
of the world religions to the findings of contemporary neuroscience - Karen
Armstrong argues that compassion is hardwired into our brains, yet is
constantly pushed back by our more primitive instincts for selfishness and
survival. Since time immemorial religion has enhanced our altruistic
tendencies: all faiths insist that the Golden Rule is the test of true
spirituality . .Always treat others as you wish to be treated yourself..

* Taking as her starting point the teachings of the great world religions,
Karen Armstrong demonstrates in twelve practical steps how we can bring
compassion to the forefront of our lives. These steps both reveal the
inadequacies of our knowledge of ourselves and others and enable us to unlock
our potential for understanding, empathy and altruism that can be translated
into acts of kindness and charity. They culminate in the most radical and
challenging of all religious maxims . love your enemy. Yet in today.s world,
compassion in no longer a luxury but, in the words of Martin Luther King,
.an absolute necessity for our survival..

* Practising these steps will not change our lives overnight and turn us into
saints or sages: the attempt to become a more compassionate human being is
a lifelong project. Yet Karen Armstrong argues that compassion is inseparable
from humanity, and by transcending the limitations of selfishness on a daily
basis we will not only make a difference in the world but also lead happier,
more fulfilled, lives.

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