Lovingkindness, Science, and Sharon Salzberg

I like papers about meditation related topics published in peer reviewed journals, and I like teachers who truly embody what they teach.  Here's a neat connection between the two related to a discussion about lovingkindness meditation we had recently in the Intro to Mindfulness Practice workshop sponsored by LFV & FHNN.

From a paper published in the Frontiers of Human Neuroscience in 2022:

Several studies and review papers have demonstrated the effectiveness of LKM [lovingkindness meditation] on symptom improvement for psychiatry disorders, including relieving pain, increasing social connection, reducing anger, hostility, depression, and anxiety. 

[...]  

A few other studies investigated more modern forms of LKM or compassion meditation. Long-term LKM meditators are reported to have a lifelong change of positive psychological characteristics such as empathy, motivation, and honesty. This may partially explain why LKM is known to increase a sense of well-being.

One of the references used in the paper is the Sharon Salzberg's now classic book Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness. (New York, NY: Shambhala Publications).  "Sharon’s seminal book, originally released in 1995 and re-released in 2020, with a Foreword by Jon Kabat-Zinn."

Sharon, a co-founder of IMS, is one of the most beloved teachers around and a skilled advocate for lovingkindness meditation for decades.  She travels extensively.  I've had the good fortune to see her on the West Coast when I lived there and in the DC area when she substitutes at times for Tara Brach at Insight Meditation of Washington's Wednesday night gathering at the RRUUC just up the street from LFV & FHNN.  Look for her and read her books.