What is MBCL?
Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living (MBCL) is an eight-week compassion training programme for people who already have some experience of mindfulness. It offers practices that help you bring more kindness and compassion to yourself, others and the wider world.
Erik van den Brink and Frits Koster began developing MBCL in the Netherlands in 2007. They designed it as a follow-on programme for people who wish to deepen an established mindfulness practice through compassion practices.
MBCL builds on the skills developed in a foundational mindfulness course, such as MBSR or MBCT.
A programme that builds on MBSR or MBCT
MBCL consists of eight sessions of two and a half hours and an additional silent session of the same length. Its structure follows the model of MBSR and MBCT.
MBCL may be particularly helpful if you value mindfulness practice but find it difficult to bring what you learn into daily life. The programme offers ways to meet pain, stress and suffering with greater kindness and care.
MBCL is a secular programme informed by research into mindfulness, compassion and their role in well-being.
Influences on the development of MBCL
In developing MBCL, Erik van den Brink and Frits Koster drew on the work of Paul Gilbert, Christopher Germer and Kristin Neff, among others. They were also inspired by neuroscientist and mindfulness teacher Rick Hanson, psychologist and researcher Barbara Fredrickson, and psychologist and meditation teacher Tara Brach.
MBCL and other compassion programmes
MBCL and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) are two established compassion training programmes. MBCL is designed as a follow-on to foundational mindfulness training, whereas MSC can be taken as a stand-alone course. You can read more in our comparison of MBCL and MSC.
What is compassion?
Compassion is the ability to be sensitive to suffering in ourselves and others, and is accompanied by the willingness and courage to do something about it.
Compassion has a transpersonal quality: it includes a wish to alleviate or prevent suffering, whoever is affected. It does not exclude anyone. Compassion can extend to ourselves, other people, all living beings, nature and the Earth.
It does not ask us to care for others at our own expense. Nor does caring for ourselves mean turning away from others. Compassion invites us to find a balance between the two.
The capacity for compassion is part of being human, although it may not always have had the chance to grow. Through practice, we can learn to respond to suffering in ourselves and others with greater kindness and care. MBCL offers a way to explore this in our own lives.
Where is MBCL used?
MBCL was first developed in mental healthcare for people experiencing a range of psychological difficulties. It has since been offered to healthcare professionals themselves.
Today, MBCL is also used in education, workplaces and spiritual care, among other settings. People may come to the programme for different reasons, including a wish to respond to stress, pain or suffering with greater compassion.
Recognition as a mindfulness-based programme (MBP)
In 2022, the British Association of Mindfulness-Based Approaches (BAMBA) and the Dutch Vereniging Mindfulness Based Trainers Nederland (VMBN) recognised MBCL as a follow-on mindfulness-based programme. Both associations unanimously endorsed the MBP Taskforce’s assessment of MBCL as a „normal dose follow-up MBP“ vor people who have completed MBSR, MBCT or an equivalent course.
This means that MBCL is a complete programme designed to deepen an existing mindfulness practice. Its format follows that of MBSR and MBCT, with eight sessions and an additional silent session.
In 2023, EAMBA, now the Earth Alliance of Mindfulness-Based Associations, acknowledged the MBCL curriculum as a follow-on mindfulness-based programme.
Who is MBCL for?
- Have you noticed that you benefit from mindfulness exercises, but find it difficult to integrate them into your daily life?
- Do insights often stay in your head without becoming part of your life (“I understand, but I don’t feel it”)?
- Do you notice persistent patterns of self-criticism, withdrawing from others or pushing yourself too hard?
- Do you find it difficult to find a healthy balance between taking care of others and taking care of yourself?
- Do you feel vulnerable or burdened by life circumstances – for example regarding your physical or emotional health, your family, relationships or social situation?
If you recognise yourself in one or more of these questions, MBCL may offer a way to deepen your mindfulness practice and explore how compassion can support you.
The programme is also open to anyone with a foundation in mindfulness who wishes to practise kindness and compassion towards themselves, others and the wider world.
MBCL welcomes people in all their diversity regardless of their gender or their ethnic, cultural or religious background.
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