On Compassion, Commitment to Nonviolence

Edited by Prim M.

Why Compassion? 

Given the total lack of empathy of Trump and his cronies, it may seem counterintuitive to advocate for compassion. Where is the empathy for the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have been killed in the past year? Where is the compassion for people who depend on social programs? Where is the concern for our planet currently being destroyed by endless wars and depletion of resources? I’m certain that many activists feel the crushing devastation of working so tirelessly, only to see so few results from our elected officials.

Counterintuitively, I argue that compassion is a philosophy not only of benefit to society, but to the individual activist as well. Before we see an outward shift in the world, we must begin with an inward shift in our awareness first. Various religious and spiritual traditions have placed emphasis on the practice of compassion for inward transformation, be it speaking the truth in love in Christianity, the practice of mercy in Islam, acts of charity in Judaism, and of course Buddhism’s meditation on loving-kindness . 

In Buddhism, there is great emphasis on the practice and cultivation of compassion. Buddhism recognizes that the illusion of the ego is inherently ridden with suffering. This illusion is rooted in a sense of separation, be it geographical or ideological. It is natural to be upset when witnessing the exploitation of others. However, the root of this exploitation comes from an illusion of power. With this in mind, we can even have compassion for those who commit acts of evil. Those who commit acts of evil do so because they believe having ultimate control over reality will give them happiness. Compassion on the other hand comes from an acceptance of reality, and grants true, lasting peace and happiness.

“I thought activism was about acting against cruelty?”

Compassion is needed now more than ever, at a time when society appears to be increasingly divided. It may seem strange to read that we should practice compassion towards those who commit evil acts. At one level yes, we do aim to fight for a more just world, but at the same time, we can acknowledge that these corrupt figures are acting from a false sense of perception. Even Elon Musk is quoted as saying “you wouldn’t want to be me.” With this understanding we can practice compassion even toward our adversaries. Advocating for compassion is not just a call for half assed reforms, but the embodiment of a radical state of being.  Even the duality between common people and elites would collapse through widespread practice of compassion. This duality only exists and is maintained through collectively held and enforced perceptions.

As activists, we may be devoted to our view of justice and fairness, but this becomes complex when those around us do not share our perspective. To clarify, compassion doesn’t mean sympathizing with or enabling unethical behavior. Compassion does not mean “anything goes.” Buddhism, as well as many other spiritual paths, emphasizes the need for ethics and discipline. Speaking truth to power is a radical act of compassion, as it is done in the service of all beings. 

Compassion is a method of nonviolent resistance. Compassion builds understanding, and brings resolution to conflict. 

To live in a state of compassion is to see ourselves in others. It is to recognize that perhaps others don’t have the same life experiences or access to education that we may have. If we expect everyone to be purely rational or objective, this is an immense setup for disappointment. As Daryl Davis (who is known for attending Klan rallies as a Black man) has said, “their perspective is their reality.” This isn’t to argue for moral relativism. We act based on what we perceive reality to be, even if it turns out to be wrong.

"If you want somebody's reality to change, don't attack it, don't tell them they're wrong. Don't attack it. Offer them better perceptions, and if they resonate with one of your perceptions they will change their own reality, because one's perception becomes one's reality." -Daryl Davis

You may wonder how anyone could have possibly voted for Trump in the 2024 election, given how the last run of things went (Charlottesville, January 6th, etc.). However, if we crusade and tell Trump’s supporters how evil or stupid they are for supporting stable genius, it will not have lasting success (as we learned from 2016). There is even support for Trump in places one would not typically expect. I am currently amazed to see how much support there is for Trump even among spiritual circles. A number of figures in the so-called “Spiritual Community”, have seemed to embrace Trump and MAGA. For years I heard these same figures espouse values of introspection, community, discipline, and compassion, only to endorse such an unscrupulous egomaniac. In fact, there was a shouting match about Trump at one group meditation I attended, of all places. 

Perhaps a break from all the ketamine and ayahuasca is in order.

The Practice of Compassion in Activism

In your journey as an activist, you will see both the best and worst in people. An example that stands out to me was seeing the harassment of homeless people at an encampment. In fall of 2024, people in New Haven, Connecticut were forming an encampment after being evicted from their homes. One organization wanted to allow homeless people to stay with them, but the city wouldn’t allow it. An encampment was formed on the New Haven Green, which was eventually broken up by police and forced everyone out. 

At the time the encampment took place, a Narcan training was held. After the training, there wasn’t much to do so I offered to have a group meditation. Halfway through, I heard laughter and commotion. I dismissed this at first, but I had a hunch something was wrong. I stopped meditating, myself and another activist went to check as well. It turned out that a group of young guys on bikes shoved one of the members of the encampment, and bounced. Thankfully he was not hurt, and the assholes took off. 

That night showed me the duality of human beings. On the one hand there were people attending a Narcan training with a desire to potentially save lives, and on the other were people who derived laughter from wreaking havoc and tormenting the defenseless. I cried on the way home. 

You may be reading this and feel anger at those who pick on the homeless for fun. How could someone have the audacity to harm someone who never bothered them, who already endures so much hardship on a daily basis? How do you expect me to feel compassion for people who are so cruel and ignorant?

Upon reflection, I envisioned them as older, wiser men regretting their actions. In that moment I felt I could feel compassion for those beings. A more difficult step, I could recognize that if these young guys felt compassion in their hearts, and could see how their actions affect those around them, they would truly feel no need to shove or belittle anyone. Many of us have done or said things from a place of ignorance. We may have held beliefs we no longer subscribe to. It can also be observed that the mistreatment of others comes from a desire to feel superior. Compassion is important in activism because it negates the need for superiority.

On a practical note: Make sure people are not isolated so they are not as vulnerable to attacks from opposition.

Another example was when handing out fliers on the Genocide in Gaza at a university campus.  Most people were either mildly sympathetic or just wanted to move on to their next class. At one point, I overheard a student saying “Why should I give a fuck about Gaza?.” Activists or more worldly-minded people may be shocked at how common this sentiment is among the general population, but it is a reality we have to contend with. Why should we give a fuck about something that is not directly affecting us in our daily lives? This outlook happens because to see the suffering of Palestinians and take it as our own is painful. It is painful for the ego to see the reality of so much suffering and injustice in our world, and people tune it out. 

An obstacle we face as activists is pushing through the apathy of our society. Many people will not care about an issue if they don’t perceive it as directly affecting them. In How Can I Help? Ram Dass argues that we may feel limited in what we can do because of our limited identity. If we identify with the suffering of others, helping becomes much more intuitive than if we only identify with our own personal immediate problems of a busy day. There are also many people who think an issue is important, but don’t yet have the desire to take action. People may also have the desire to take action but don’t yet have the tools and resources to begin. For those of us who are progressive leaning, it seems intuitive to see the pain of others, and to work for the cessation of suffering in all beings. We must acknowledge that not everyone is as world centric in their identity as we may be.

Thick Face, Warm Heart

In my spiritual practice, one notion I have struggled to grapple with is that of “unconditional love” for all aspects of reality. To our egos, this is a strange concept because how can reality be unconditional love when there is so much suffering in our fucked up world? In fact, many atheists and skeptics will say “What kind of a God would allow so much pain and tragedy in our existence?” One of my favorite books that helped me understand this paradox is one that advocates for “deception without deceit.”

In Thick Face, Black Heart, Chin Ning Chu argues that people who are successful, be it in the business, or the political world, are able to do so because they have ruthless mental toughness and operate by a different moral code than ordinary people. This code allows them to be more cutthroat and act in a more audacious manner. In fact, the book’s subtitle is The Warrior Philosophy for Conquering the Challenges of Business and Life. This may sound extreme, especially to someone who is of a more “service to the world” mindset. 

Upon reading such books as Thick Face Black Heart, or any book by Robert Greene (The Laws of Human Nature, The 48 laws of Power, etc.), one realizes that the Republican party is insanely adept at using Thick Face, Black Heart politically. The Democratic party fails to understand the game that is being played over and over again. This strategic blunder goes back to the debates of Reagan and Jimmy Carter, where Carter presents himself as a rational, decent person, but Reagan, utilizing his show business background, would respond with witty zingers. Liberals fail because they believe that if they have the facts on their side, surely that will convince a rational voting population to vote for them. Today, Liberals are both horrified and puzzled that Trump and the MAGA Republicans appeal to people’s worst instincts, but that is in fact their entire strategy. To quote Will McAvoy from Newsroom “If Liberals are so fuckin’ smart then why do they fail so god damned always?!” 

Epic fail.

One of my favorite chapters in Thick Face, Black Heart, is “Deception without deceit”. In our day-to-day lives we consider deception to be wrong, and that makes sense at first glance. However, nothing is black and white. We not only deceive others, but we also deceive ourselves. We also deceive ourselves about not deceiving ourselves or others. Like many tools at our disposal, the use of deception depends on how it is used and for what end. For instance, Abraham Lincoln was never open about freeing the slaves in his early political career. He said he would go with the majority at the time, but when elected, he gave his Gettysburg address in which he stated all men are created equal. By maintaining a thick face, Lincoln achieved his goals for the greater good. Chu argues that a thick face (mental toughness) is absolutely necessary to fight for the service of others.  

“You are unable to stop others from attempting to take unfair advantage of you. You will therefore have to be ready with all of your faculties to defend your interests at any time against the ruthless and cunning. As one strives to be a just and noble individual, it is necessary to master the art of self defense. A perfect lover is also a perfect warrior. A thick face, black heart practitioner knows that in order to be tough with others, you first have to be even tougher with yourself and learn how to discipline your thoughts and your actions. Whether you are resisting or yielding, in pain or pleasure, in relaxation or effort, you must never lose sight of your intended target.” -Chin Ning Chu

Instead of having a Thick Face, Black Heart, we can have a thick face, but a warm heart. We can be realistic about humanity’s capacity for cruelty, acknowledge the reality of the game being played, while internally having a spirit of compassion and generosity. Some figures that embody the qualities of thick face, warm heart are Gandhi and Martin Luther King. The fruit of their actions of course drew great benefit for all of humanity. However, as activists we should not be naïve and think our goodness, virtue, or high intellect are enough to create social change. Both MLK and Gandhi were successful because of their ability to think, speak, and act strategically. 

“Most think nonviolence is not to fight. On the contrary, nonviolence is the strongest power. It conquers the power of violence. My creed of nonviolence is an extremely active force. It has no room for cowardice or even weakness. There is hope for a violent man to someday become nonviolent, but there is no hope for a coward.”

-Gandhi

For those who think violence is necessary to defeat our adversaries, I would like to examine the effects of violence when used.

Violence in Practice

There once was an Anarchist by the name of Uncle Ted, who believed that the modern world is so cruel and alienating that every trace of it should be destroyed. He argued that this is because industrial society reduces everyone to an interchangeable part. Thus, reforms of such an artificial society are futile, and that violence is necessary for its destruction for humanity to be liberated. Between 1978 and 1995 Uncle Ted mailed a number of bombs, killing three and injuring twenty three people. 

This, of course, is the story of Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber. 

One fan of Uncle Ted, is none other than Luigi Mangione, who killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December of 2024. Mangione says of Kaczynski's Industrial Society and its Future: 

“When all other forms of communication fail, violence is necessary to survive. You may not like his methods, but to see things from his perspective, it’s not terrorism, it’s war and revolution.” -Luigi Mangione

What is critical to Mangione's story are not just his actions, but the reaction to the killing on social media. Mainstream media was shocked that so many people supported the death of a healthcare CEO. There was even a GoFundMe page to raise funds for Mangione’s legal defense. A poll by Emerson College found that 41 percent of young voters support the killing of Brian Thompson. 

This shooting is a microcosm of many issues in our society. Ordinary people feel their voices aren’t being heard by corporate interests that continue to screw them. We spend more on healthcare than any other country, but have the lowest life expectancy. The insurance industry is a racket which people pay so much into but receive so little value. It is legal extortion. The Words “Deny, Defend, Depose” were found on shell casings, a reference to how insurance companies deny claims. The media doesn’t address these concerns but instead acts as a mouthpiece for the same corporations who are exploiting them, and so certain people may turn to more drastic means to be heard. 

This resentment stems from a health insurance system that seeks profit at all costs, with no compassion for the people who pay into it. Perhaps CEOs should introspect, and think of how their immense profiting from suffering has created so much resentment towards them. 

The zeitgeist can be captured by Bill Burr’s rant on the subject:

Luigi Mangione’s actions are not to be condoned, or even worse, idolized. This attack didn’t give us medicare for all. Mangione's rage could have been channeled constructively to help others, but instead was used for ego and self indulgence, the very same mechanism that inflicts so much suffering and damage upon our society. Imagine what Kaczynski or Mangione could have given to the world with their gifts. Instead of pursuing a life of true service with his gifts, Mangione will instead spend the rest of his life in prison or face the death penalty. For those who are growing impatient, and think violent revolution is necessary for social change to happen, I urge you to consider using your abilities for service to others instead.

Note: If you are a member of an organization, and commit an act of violence, it also harms the reputation and work of your fellow activists.

Compare these actions to Christopher Reeve, who was paralyzed from the neck down, and created a foundation to help others with his condition. We may not have Hollywood connections or celebrity status to elevate our cause like Reeve, but we still have many advantages others do not have. 

Violent tactics ultimately fail because they are rooted in dualistic thinking (us versus them). For progress to be made on a number of issues requires a shift in consciousness. Violence will just perpetuate more suffering. 

Now that we’ve addressed the futility of violent resistance, let us examine the philosophy and practice of nonviolence.

Nonviolence in Practice

“Nonviolence is a commitment to not inflicting suffering on another human being, while also fighting for the benefitof others” -  Paula Rayman

“Even if you don’t do anything, you allow the people to kill and to destroy, although you don’t do anything, that is also violence.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

“The doctrine that has guided my life is not one of inaction but of the highest action.” -Gandhi

An argument I often hear among radicals is “How can you expect people to respond peacefully and sit by when violence is inflicted upon them?” Nonviolence, however, is anything but passive, it is an active, radical, compassionate form of action. As amusing as it may be to see Richard Spencer get punched in the face on repeat, such actions are not sustainable for creating lasting social change. Activists should avoid using violence, not just for moral reasons, but also for strategic reasons as well. 

Erica Chenoweth, co author of Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict created a data set of 323 violent and non violent mass actions, taking place from 1900 to 2006. Chenoweth found that nonviolent resistance was more effective than using violence to produce social change. “53% of major nonviolent campaigns were successful as opposed to only 26% of violent campaigns being successful.” Nonviolent resistance also has more mass appeal because there is a lower barrier to participation compared to picking up weapons. 

“Countries in which there were nonviolent campaigns were about 10 times more likely to transition to democracies within a five-year period compared to countries in which there were violent campaigns — whether the campaigns succeeded or failed.” -Erica Chenoweth

Compassion may seem like a strategic disadvantage, but it is in fact an advantage when we have so much love and dedication to each other in the community, while our adversaries only have love for themselves. To practice compassion is to practice nonviolent resistance, because it disarms and allows an opportunity for our adversary to grow and evolve. Let's examine how compassion can be practiced, even towards people who possess immense irrational hatred.

Compassion in Practice

When we want someone to change their mind, reason alone is often insufficient. This is because people are slow to admit when they are being irrational. Admitting that we are incorrect is a threat to our perception of ourselves. So if we can’t use logic for someone to change their mind, what else is at our disposal? This is where compassion can be a strategic asset for activists. 

One of the most skilled practitioners of Thick Face, Warm Heart, is none other than Daryl Davis, whose practice of compassion resulted in over two hundred members of the Ku Klux Klan leaving, some of whom gave him their robes. In fact, even people who have physically attacked Davis have come back and apologized.

“Is what he (The Klansman) is saying offensive? Yes it is offensive. Am I offended by it? Absolutely not. And the reason why I am not offended by it is because it’s not true.” - Daryl Davis

This is the essence of having a Thick Face, Warm Heart.

Davis’ intellectual curiosity stems from an experience as a fourth grade Cub Scout, when people were throwing rocks at him. Leaders had to cover him and lead him out of the way. When the young Davis came home and told his parents what happened, they explained he was attacked because of his race. This led Davis to ask a question for the rest of his life. “How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?”

Davis traveled the world growing up, and this gave him a more intellectually curious, multicultural view of the world. Having to make friends so frequently, of all different kinds of people, gave Davis a sense of connection. As Mark Twain said “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, narrowmindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” It may seem strange how anyone could attend a Klan rally, but Davis attends them, and approaches Klansmen with the same intellectual curiosity and openness an anthropologist would have. 

How does Davis inspire such a radical transformation to someone with such a repugnant view of humanity and the world? For starters, he does not preach. Think of any time you’ve given advice to someone that seems so obvious, but they continue to make stupid decisions. For someone to realize their current trajectory is harmful, they need to arrive at the conclusion themselves. Davis argues he did not convert these Klansmen, but was the catalyst for them to make the shift in perspective themselves. Davis applies this same principle to his interactions with racists. Instead of telling these Klansmen how bigoted and ignorant they are for their views, he asks them to consider other possible explanations than what they believe. This gives the opportunity for the Klansmen to do their own mental work that is necessary to transform. 

The first Klansman Davis got to leave was a Cyclops (Klan Leader). The two were on a drive together, and the Cyclops claimed that black people are violent because of a latent gene. Davis mentioned there are white serial killers. Does a latent gene cause them to be violent? The Cyclops said that’s ridiculous, and when he said that, he began to see how absurd it was to assume that of Davis because he is Black. Five months later, the Cyclops left the Klan and gave Davis his robe, the first among hundreds of other Klansmen to leave.

This strategy of compassion was so effective that at one rally, a Klan leader actually praised Davis for being kinder to him than the white protesters. This answers the question of how Davis could possibly attend Klan rallies as a black man. He practices compassion and understanding, and the Klansmen transform. If bigotry and prejudice are learned, then what can be learned can also be unlearned. 

Daryl Davis doesn’t set out to convert the Klansmen, but to simply understand "How can you hate me when you don't even know me?"

Further Examples of Compassion

In Ann Arbor, Michigan, there was a Klan rally, and people protested in response. Someone with a Confederate shirt got caught in the crowd, and people were screaming to attack. Keshia Thomas put herself in front of the man in the Confederate shirt to prevent protesters from attacking him. The crowd suddenly became conscious and stopped. 

Months later in a coffee shop, someone thanked her and said: “that was my dad.” How would the son have viewed the world had the crowd severely injured or killed the Klansman? 

“Violence breeds violence. Hate breeds hate. That’s why we have to use our speech to change hearts and minds to break the cycle of hate and ignorance. Everyday Americans can and should use their voice to help produce the change they want to see in the world.” -Keshia Thomas

Another story of compassion is of Eli Saslow, who invited Derek Black, son of a prominent white supremacist (Don Black) to a Jewish dinner. To Derek, this white supremacist worldview was all he had known from a young age; it was his entire life. It wasn’t until he went to college that he got to see the joys of diversity for himself.

It of course should be recognized that one should not practice compassion at the expense of putting oneself in physical danger. There are in fact some white supremacists who will go to the extreme of harming or even killing activists. Compassion, however, can help us understand why some are trapped by limiting beliefs, and that it is possible for them to evolve.

Strategic Compassion

You may be thinking: “Your philosophy of compassion is great in theory, but how do we actually apply compassion in our day to day as activists?"

The book that helped me grow the most socially was Robert Greene’s The Laws of Human Nature. A common theme of Greene’s work is to be aware of peoples’ self-interest and motives direct them toward ours. If we wish to see some sort of change, our natural instinct is to preach or prove why someone is wrong. While it is good to read and be informed, many people don't care how many facts we spew at them and won’t be impressed by our vast encyclopedia of knowledge. This is a common barrier I see between Liberals, who view themselves as informed, and Trump supporters. If we spew our viewpoints, this is also passive on the person we are trying to awaken. If we ask questions, and have curiosity, we are acting as a catalyst for them to do their own mental work.

As anti-war activists, we are aware of the damage that the US war machine and imperialism causes around the world. Strangely enough, many in Trump’s base believe that he is a candidate for peace, while the Democratic party are war-mongers. To us as progressives, this may seem like a high grade of cope, but to Trump’s base, they seriously believe that he is anti-war, and fighting the elites (while in reality giving them a trillion dollar tax break, and having strong ties with Israel). A weakness in Trump’s armor may be to expose how in fact he is a war monger. Entire campaigns should be created to raise awareness on how Trump is in fact pro-war.

Likewise, Trump supporters voted for him because they perceive him as going against the establishment (I’m not arguing they are correct for believing this, but this is how they see themselves, and what they value). They believe he is speaking to the underclass that has been screwed over by elites. People still continue to support Trump because he speaks to their anger and resentment. 

If interacting with a Trump supporter, one could ask questions like: “How is Trump fighting the elites?” or “How does Trump help working people?”. You can also ask what they think of Bernie or AOC, what they say may surprise you.

One person who was really effective at speaking directly to MAGA supporters was Hawk Newsome, President of BLM Greater New York. A rally was held by MAGA, and speakers gave him time on stage to show they are committed to their principles of free speech. In Newsome's speech, he opens with  “I am an American” and “I am a Christian” to an entire crowd of MAGA supporters. Though his worldview is diametrically opposed to MAGA, he was using their language. He was first addressing them by showing he shares what is important to them.

Newsome then asks the audience “So you ask why there’s a Black Lives Matter?” This invites them to consider and question their own view of the world instead of just repeating a message they have been conditioned to tune out. 

Not all were enthusiastic to hear Newsome speak, some were hecklers, but it’s still impressive how a figure within BLM could manage to get as many Trump supporters to clap as he did. This was achieved through understanding the audience he was speaking to, and the practice of compassion. 

“We say if a cop is bad, he needs to get fired, like a bad plumber, like a bad lawyer, like a bad fucking politician. We don’t want handouts, we don’t want anything that’s yours. We want our God-Given right to freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” -Hawk Newsome

Newsome is speaking to the rugged individualism that Trump’s base so strongly identifies with. In very subtle and masterful ways, he makes the case for Black Lives Matter, while also calling for a broader unity. It should also be recognized that compassion was also practiced by those who gave Hawk Newsome the opportunity to speak, and those in the audience who cheered him as well.

Compassion Among Activists and Ourselves

As an activist, you will be exposed to a spectrum of viewpoints, even within the same ideological movement. In my time as an activist, I have had interactions with everyone ranging from Leninists to Libertarians. Worldview can be informed by ideology, but also socio-economic background as well. There may be substantial disagreement ideologically, or even logistically. Whether someone is from the ivy league, or the working class, what’s important is a commitment to our common interests. 

Compassion is important because even though we may have significant disagreements with fellow activists, our energy and mental bandwidth is toward solving problems and making a tangible impact in our communities. One cannot stress how detrimental Trump’s second term in office will be for society, but one potential advantage of having an administration this awful, is to draw a broader unity and compassion of our whole movement.

In one of his lectures, the spiritual teacher Ram Dass described an experience he had when leading a workshop for activists. However, he noted that people of color felt as if they were being preached to. Once made aware of this, the structure of the workshop changed so that it was more collaborative and everyone was able to contribute as equals. As Ram Dass says “We are all just walking each other home.”

Lastly, there is compassion for oneself as an activist. I hope that activism is a lifelong journey to whom is reading this. With any journey comes mistakes, and mistakes are opportunities to learn. It is inevitable that we will make mistakes or fall short in some capacity, but that is just a part of the journey. As Mark Manson says, if we cringe at our past, that just shows us how much we’ve grown.

To Conclude,

Though one has a warm heart, a thick face is still necessary for the political and spiritual battle ahead of us.

Sources:

Dass, Ram, and Paul Gorman. How Can I Help? Stories and Reflections on Service. Alfred A. Knopf, 1985.

Chu, Chin-Ning. Thick Face, Black Heart: The Warrior Philosophy for Conquering the Challenges of Business and Life. Simon & Schuster, 1992.

Kaczynski, Theodore. Industrial Society and Its Future. 1995.

Shock new poll reveals most young Americans back Brian Thompson's murder... and support suspect Luigi Mangione - Daily Mail

"PARASITES" Luigi's Manifesto Reveals Healthcare RAGE - Breaking Points

Luigi Mangione: Who is the suspect in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson? - BBC

Why Non Violent Resistance beats violence Force - The Harvard Gazette

Nonviolence | The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute

The King Philosophy - Nonviolence365® - The King Center