Compassion Cell Credo

The following credo is inspired by the compassion cell garden. Read more here.

Called into action by the activity of terror cells and other forms of human violence, I live as a compassion cell according to the following commitments:

In a world beset by random violence, I choose to be a compassion cell—a committer of random acts of love, non-judgment, acceptance, inclusion, and compassion.

I am a vital part of humanity’s immune system response to terror cells. I am united with countless other compassion cells around the world who know that violence cannot end violence, that hatred will never heal hatred. Only the transformative love of human beings committed to living as compassion cells can lead us from terror and violence to peace.

I practice being compassionate first with myself. Remembering my own immeasurable dignity and worth, I choose to let go of harsh self-criticism, self-judgment, shame, and perfectionism. I treat myself with the kindness I would extend to a treasured friend. I am compassionate even with the imperfection of my self-compassion!

Compassion for myself flows into compassion for others like a ripple in a pond, going out first to the inner circle of my life and then to wider circles. I do my best to treat each person in my inner circle with kindness and compassion. I see the inevitable tensions of close relationships as indispensable training for living as a compassion cell in the world.

I manifest compassion for others in my work. I choose to align how I make a living with a commitment to making a life that flows with compassionate service.

My membership in the human race is my truest belonging. I refuse to let my belonging to any religion, race, gender, political party, or nation make me forget my commitment to treat every member of the human family with dignity, respect, and compassion.

I believe that as the number of human beings living as compassion cells reaches a critical mass, terror cells will shrivel in number and power. I am part of the collective response of billions of compassion cells committed to envisioning and creating peace between all nations and peoples of the world.

My call to compassionate action extends beyond the human race to all living creatures and to our shared blue-marble home that sustains life in all its astonishing variety.

Read more from Kevin Anderson here.