Compassion is one of the most powerful virtues to have in a life committed to nonviolence and peace. True compassion is not an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason and patience. Reason and patience are the most powerful antidotes to anger and hatred. Unfortunately, many people misjudge these qualities as signs of weakness. I believe the opposite to be true; that they are the signs of true inner strength. Compassion is by nature gentle and peaceful, yet in reality is very powerful.

Compassion comes with insight into the heart, into the essence of life, as we see in ourselves the forces that drive a person into action. Ultimately, compassion extends to every creature. I sometimes struggle with having compassion when I witness injustice or ignorance, and there are times when my compassion for my furry friends far exceeds my compassion for my fellow human being. It is at these times I have to remember that our compassionate attitude does not change even if that other person behaves negatively.

So how do we enhance our compassion? We can begin expanding our compassionate nature by removing the greatest hindrances to compassion - anger and hatred. Anger is part of our emotional system, while hatred is a learned behavior, which usually connects to anger. How we respond in the moment when we are angry is key to being compassionate. Right there in that present moment is the only place where we can choose how to respond, not react, to what is going on in our life. When we see and respond from a place of compassion, we are more likely to respond in a way that is the best for all involved. The chaos and conditions all around us are usually not the least bit in our control, but our response with compassion is indeed in our control, our choice, the only thing we actually do have any control over.

The philosopher David Hume reminds us that compassion is innate, part of our genetic makeup. "There is some benevolence, however small, infused into our bosom, some spark of friendship for human kind, some particle of the dove kneaded into our frame, along with the elements of the wolf and the serpent." That particle is the seed that expands us to our full humanity and links our lives to our fellow human beings. As the Native American proverb teaches, it is the one we feed that grows. Will I feed the serpent, the wolf or the dove? I choose the dove - peace begins with me.