Paola Cheng
on the Intersection of Spirituality,
Mindfulness, and Self-Compassion
Listen:
Show Notes:
How might the practices of mindfulness and self-compassion enhance our spiritual journey? Paola Cheng believes that no matter our faith tradition (or lack thereof), we are spiritual beings, and the common humanity we uncover through mindful self-compassion enriches our interior lives—whether we believe in God or not.
Paola is a Spiritual Director trained at Australia’s University of Divinity, Heart of Life Yarra Theological Union. She also serves as a mental health social worker, meditation facilitator in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and certified teacher in mindful self-compassion. Paola is passionate about interfaith dialogue, having learned meditation as child with her Buddhist father before converting to Catholicism and studying meditation at the Chinmaya Mission. She currently teaches MBSR, MBCT and MSC workshops with John Julian through Thinking Healthy.
On this episode of Noble Mind, Paola joins Kate and Alex to discuss how being raised in a multicultural, multiracial and multifaith environment shapes her worldview and sense of identity. She describes the role of a spiritual director, explaining how she thinks about the connection between self-compassion and spirituality and how the practice of mindful self-compassion looks different in a secular versus spiritual context. Listen in for Paola’s insight on the universality of compassion and learn how the idea of "heartfulness" unifies her work as a spiritual director, social worker and meditation facilitator.
Key Takeaways
- Paola’s background as a spiritual director, meditation facilitator, social worker and trained teacher in mindful self-compassion
- How being raised in a multicultural, multiracial and multifaith environment attracted Paola to yoga and meditation
- How Paola thinks about the connection between self-compassion and spirituality
- The role of a spiritual director in accompanying people on their spiritual journey
- What differentiates spiritual direction from psychotherapy and who Paola serves as a spiritual director
- How Paola leverages self-compassion in her work as a spiritual director
- Paola’s insight around mindfulness in the Christian tradition and why mindfulness might better be called "heartfulness"
- How Paola’s lived experience navigating multiple cultures and religions shapes her perspective and sense of identity
- How the inner peace that comes from mindful self-compassion translates to peace in the world
- How the practice of mindful self-compassion looks different in a spiritual vs. secular context
- Paola’s take on how compassion is understood differently in different religions and cultures but is also universal
Connect with Paola
Resources Mentioned
- Heart of Life
- Yarra Theological Union
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
- Center for Mindful Self-Compassion
- Chinmaya Mission
- Tai Chi Spirit and Essence: A New Vision of a Healing Process by Beverly Milne
- Chris Germer
- Thich Nhat Hanh
- Jon Kabat-Zinn
- ‘Meditating as a Christian’ by Laurence Freeman OSB
- The John Main Center
- Paul Gilbert
- No Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming Suffering by Thich Nhat Hanh
- January 2017 Bourke Street Car Attack in Melbourne
- Senator Pauline Hanson
Disclaimer: Please note that the information shared in this podcast is strictly for educational purposes only, and is not intended as psychological treatment or consultation of any kind.
Recent Past Episodes:
Hosts:
Katherine King, PsyD
Katherine King, PsyD is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychology at William James College. She was trained in evidence-based treatments within the Veterans’ Administration and has a private practice specializing in geropsychology. She is also a member of the Boston Shambhala Center Board of Directors, a vajrayana student of Buddhism, and has practiced meditation for over 20 years. Learn more about Kate at www.drkateking.com.
Alex Gokce, MSW
Alex Gokce, MSW has a master’s degree in social work from Salem State University and an undergraduate degree in Comparative Government from Harvard University. He has led psychotherapy groups on topics including mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and mind-body approaches to pain management. He has co-led programs at the Boston Shambhala Center on the topics of trauma and self-compassion. His personal and professional interests center around the individual, societal and intergenerational impacts of trauma, as well as the sociocultural roots of interpersonal harm.
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The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and training of mental health professionals in the integration of mindfulness meditation and psychotherapy.
