Sunday November 23, 2025 

1pm - 3pm ET 

Online Only | Free (Donations Accepted) 

Co-hosted by Tibet House US, Shantideva Center NYC, and The Empathy Center 

The Dalai Lama’s reincarnation is a very important and current topic, for the Tibetan people and for many others. In this Empathy Circle, we’ll explore themes of death, dying, and rebirth in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and reflect on our own views of death and its place in life.

Janna Weiss, PhD will briefly introduce The Tibetan Book of the Dead, and Bill Filler, Empathy Circle Facilitator and Trainer, will explain how to participate in an Empathy Circle. A team of experienced facilitators will guide small group Circles in breakout rooms. The Empathy Circle practice is a great way to build skills in listening, communication and handling conflict while also nurturing an empathic way of being. The structured format, based on active listening, helps everyone feel heard and creates space for meaningful dialogue, mutual understanding and connection.

No preparation is needed though you might enjoy watching this 9-minute video: How to Take Part in an Empathy Circle or listening to the audiobook of The Tibetan Book of the Dead read by Robert A.F. Thurman. Please arrive on time and plan to stay for the full two hours.

Facilitators:

JANNA WEISS, PhD, Empathy Circle Facilitator and Trainer, Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW) "16 Guidelines" trained facilitator 

BILL FILLER, Empathy Circle Facilitator and Trainer, co-creator of the Empathy Circle Facilitator Training, retired special education teacher

EDWIN RUTSCH, Founder and Director, The Empathy Center, and creator of the Empathy Circle

LOU ZWEIER, Empathy Circle Facilitator and Trainer, co-creator of the Empathy Circle Facilitator Training, Restorative Circle Facilitator, Braver Angels Facilitator, filmmaker

WENDY RIDLEY, Empathy Circle Facilitator and Trainer, Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW) Senior Facilitator

TINA JONES, Empathy Circle Facilitator and Trainer, 3 Practices Circle Facilitator, Mediator

INGRID HIRTZ, Trained in Nonviolent Communication, Empathy Circle Facilitator and Trainer.

VENERABLE THUBTEN GYATSO, Empathy Circle Facilitator, Sravasti Abbey

MARIA TROTTMAN, Empathy Circle Facilitator

AKSHAYA ANANT, Empathy Circle Facilitator, Peace Ambassador and Trainer, Assistant Professor 

https://compassionrising.com

LINKS

U.S. Senate Unanimously Passes Compassion Resolution honoring the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday as the Day of Compassion ~ International Campaign for Tibet ~ July 15, 2025 

https://savetibet.org/senate-unanimously-passes-dalai-lama-compassion-resolution/

How To Take Part in a Basic Empathy Circle 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyKW7Jebgck

PDF

http://bit.ly/EmpathyCirclePDFv2

The Tibetan Book of the Dead translated by Robert Thurman 

https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/tibetan-book-of-the-dead-liberation-through-understanding-in-the-between/420916 

https://bobthurman.com/publications/books/the-tibetan-book-of-the-dead/