Thay teaches us that compassion for oneself and everything else is critical to attain health, happiness and peace. How do we cultivate compassion? He suggests we practice mindfulness with a supportive community, or sangha.

A recent study by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health offers scientific support for these assertions. After analyzing data from 271,642 people in 139 countries, researchers found that, “regardless of the region or the national income level, social support and volunteering were positively associated with health, even after they factored in age, education, gender….”

Read more about this study, from the Harvard School of Public Health.