Intuition, Empathy, and Compassion

By Anna Ferguson

I remember being a child and playing a game that started something like this:

If you had three wishes and were able to wish for anything you imagined, what might they be?

What did we wish for? Some of us wished for all the money in the world. Others were clever and wished for three more wishes. Still others wished for world peace.

Those three wishes are a distant dream, and there is no magic wand to make them materialize. Awareness and mindfulness, however, are increasing. Through war after war after war, we are discovering the necessary steps for creating a peaceful world, both inside and out. No more marching, fasting, legislating, or fighting for peace. Now there is a relatively simple—practical—process in which anyone may participate. It is a one-two-three, step-by-step, connect-the-dots, color-by-number way to realize world peace:

Intuition + Empathy + Compassion = Peace

In other words, understand the consequences of your choices. Be kind and gentle to yourself, be kind and gentle to all beings, and be kind and gentle to the earth. Realize, too, that this process takes time. It requires each of us to connect with our intuitive, empathetic, and compassionate nature, while performing kind and peaceful acts (over and over), and working together toward a common goal. As simple as this process seems, it is also complex and exponential—both individual and cooperative.

While we live—indeed, survive—in a society of disease and destruction, change is happening. Many humans are waking up to their “moral hypocrisy.” This moral hypocrisy is deeply rooted, and it is the reason our society accepts poverty, starvation, homelessness, war, various forms of discrimination, and animal genocide as the norm. Worldwide, an average of one million human beings are murdered each year, either in their everyday lives or as a result of war. In addition, approximately sixty billion of our fellow land animals—and even more aquatic animals—are killed annually for food, clothing, entertainment, or other unnecessary reasons. There is confusion and delusion in the world as to how to interact with one another. Many have forgotten their intuitive power, are numb to empathy, and have no desire to take compassionate action.

Intuition is innate intelligence—the ability to make connections and understand something—sometimes without rational processes or reasoning. In Sanskrit, intuition is known as mati or sadhumati, meaning “sagely intelligence,” or the uniting of our natural intelligence with our hearts. This unification enables us to tap into our inner wisdom, or power—which allows us to sense, feel, believe, or know something—at times without any proof or evidence.

Often, our intuition is an inner belief or knowing that compels us to say or do something without fully understanding why. This perceptive insight or intuitive sense—also referred to as the sixth sense—is accessible to us at all times. When we think, speak, or act unconsciously, without intention, awareness, or consideration of others, we dull our intuitive powers. To tap into the full potential of your intuition, start by acting more mindfully, increasing awareness, and listening when that perceptive inner voice shares something with you.

Empathy is the ability to understand, relate to, or even share the thoughts or emotions of another being. When in a state of empathy, we have an acute awareness of—and identify with—someone else’s situation. This may result in feelings of sadness, hurt, frustration, despair, joy, love, elation, or enthusiasm. A myriad of possibilities exist when we empathize with another. When plugged into empathy, we experience a deep connection with that individual, to the point where we fuse together and—for those few moments—share a state of oneness.

Compassion is taking action. Empathy leads to compassion: they are close relatives. By motivating us to reduce the suffering of others, compassion takes the empathetic capacity of feeling, understanding, and sharing a step further. Empathy combined with compassion—also known as compassionate empathy—compels us to live virtuous lives, filled with connectivity and shared experiences. We feel just as concerned and responsible for another’s wellbeing as we do for our own.

Although we have been conditioned by societal norms to experience only selective empathy and compassion, I believe that empathy and compassion—in their purest forms—do not discriminate. The practice of yoga assists with expanding our empathy and compassion for all beings.

Intuition is the ability to recognize your true, authentic self, and empathy is the ability to recognize the true, authentic self in others. Empathy is intuition in action, and compassion is empathy in action. To empathize—feel what another is feeling—and recognize the authentic self in others, we first connect to our intuition. Intuition leads to empathy, and empathy leads to compassion. Compassion then compels us to take action in order to reduce suffering. We may envision intuition, empathy, and compassion as circles or spirals—each one intimately linked with the others—moving together through deeper levels.

As our intuition deepens, we realize the best version of ourselves through 100% self-love. Through the intuitive cultivation of this deep self-love, we gain the ability to fully love and empathize with others. This leads to more compassionate choices and actions.

On my personal journey, I practice being present in each moment and remaining mindfully aware of all my choices, as well as the corresponding reaction or result of a choice. This practice reconnects me to my intuition, deeper empathy, and compassion. The act of seeing others as myself assists me as I work to deepen my awareness and become the most authentic, best version of me.

Making a choice to stop consuming the milk, eggs, and body parts of fellow animals was a starting point for deepening my intuition, empathy, and compassion. This act resonated with me, since what I eat each day essentially creates my body and mind. My choice, in turn, opened up my unlimited capacity to love others and better understand the interconnectedness of life, viewing all beings as equally important.

I believe that when we exist in a state of empathy—allowing intuition to guide us and striving to act with compassion—we attain the ability to relate with others, resolve conflicts, create solutions, and live in peace and harmony. When I transitioned to a compassionate, plant-based diet and lifestyle (often referred to as “vegan”), I initiated what feels like an ongoing recovery process from the self-destructive act of eating fellow earthlings. The term “vegan,” coined by Donald Watson in 1944, defines what a compassionate, plant-based lifestyle looks like:

“It is a philosophy and way of living, which seeks to exclude—as far as practical and possible—all forms of exploitation of and cruelty to animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals, and the environment.” —Donald Watson

While Donald Watson coined the word “vegan,” it is important to note that different cultures across the world with varied philosophies and religions have been encouraging the practice of a compassionate plant-based lifestyle for thousands of years. They simply have not been using that specific word to define it. It has also been a long-standing part of yoga’s roots as part of the practice of mindful living.

I believe that practicing a mindful lifestyle is one way to connect with our intuitive, empathetic, and compassionate natures. While they are not perfect solutions, mindful actions are stepping stones on the path to peace. Even a practicing vegan may lapse into frustration, anger, fear, and anxiety. These feelings often stem from the time during which we abused our bodies by eating fellow animals. Living in a society that participates in a daily ritual of violence toward others perpetuates these emotions of angst and despair. This explains why regular yogic practices, such as satsang—connecting with like-minded individuals and groups—are so important for continually uplifting our spirits.

Connecting with others in satsang is a way to strengthen our dedication to making peaceful choices in life. This is essential to maintaining a state of empathy and compassion in the midst of violence, sadness, and destruction. The practice of satsang keeps us connected to the source of all that is, while we simultaneously live in a culture of violence and work for change.

The answers to peace on this planet begin with each individual. Yet many individuals are caught up in an illusion of the “status quo,” which is a Latin term describing an existing state of affairs or the accepted reality. This illusion keeps powerful, uplifting change from happening. Poverty, greed, discrimination, war, homelessness, and the violent acts we see, day after day, are all part of the status quo illusion. We have the choice to uphold this facade, by viewing these realities as normal and accepting them, or we may take action that creates peaceful change.

Many say, “It has always been this way,” or, “There has always been war and there always will be.” When we accept these statements, we stay within the illusion. When we reject them, we increase awareness and create a more unified existence, which allows for peace to unfold, both within and without.

The practice of ahimsa, or nonviolence, holds the answer to peace on this planet. The mass slaughter of fellow animals is due to humans treating other beings and the earth without empathy, love, or compassion. These acts formed the status quo illusion. Dedicating our lives to the practice of ahimsa, while connecting with our empathetic powers, shatters this illusion. This is enlightenment, and it is the beginning of world peace. Seeing through the illusion of “the way things are”—and opening up to the deep empathy required to understand the interconnectedness of all beings—creates the experience of yoga, or non-preferential and non-superior union.

Many different philosophies and religions put forth the idea that humans have the potential to create peace on earth; they believe we are here to respect and live in harmony with the earth and its inhabitants. Our ability to do anything relies on individuals working together. Unless we assist one another, no one gets anywhere. In working together, we recognize our interconnectedness and pull together in a powerful way. We have the ability to accomplish great works and create world peace.

The practice of an ahimsic—nonviolent, empathetic, and compassionate—lifestyle is an effective tool for creating harmony. Nevertheless, many people make excuses and justifications to avoid putting this practice into action. If someone says to you, “Here is a button. All you have to do to have peace on this planet is to push it,” what might you say? “I’m just too busy,” or, “The button is too far to reach,” are common excuses and justifications we hear from others. So, the cycle goes on, and the same suffering continues.

I believe world peace is possible and that we are achieving it. Answers to the questions of how to live in harmony are simple, practical, and attainable. World peace is possible, so long as we change perceptions of our fellow earthlings and how they are treated.

First, on a physical level, we create a body out of peace by considering the food we eat each day. Once we stop consuming fellow earthlings, we also stop exploiting them for clothing, experimentation, entertainment, and in countless other ways. In order to cultivate peace within and without, we abolish human slavery as well as all forms of discrimination and oppression. We stop using people and creating toxic relationships. We stop misusing the earth.

This is what ahimsa, or nonviolence, is all about. The practice develops when we become aware of what we put into our bodies. When we no longer consume or exploit others, our intuition deepens, our empathy increases, and our capacity to extend love and compassion grows exponentially—which leads to peace on this planet.

For centuries, we have herded, farmed, slaughtered, and consumed both land and sea animals. Our ongoing indifference to the survival of others, at the expense of our own survival, continues to result in a suppression of emotions. The pain, guilt, and sadness associated with the cruel, ferocious, violent practices of killing other beings has been and continues to be repressed. Many humans exist in denial, numb to (or selective in) their empathy. They are indifferent to their own actions, which harm and/or discriminate against living beings (human or otherwise).

When we adopt an empathetic, gentle lifestyle and cease to commodify and exploit other creatures, we begin the recovery process that leads us away from denial and moral hypocrisy. We realize our incredible ability to thrive without causing harm to fellow beings. This may be the divine apex of our species’ creation of world peace. While I travel on my individual journey of recovery, and witness the experiences of others in embracing ahimsa, I see that it is possible to transform our world to one of kindness and compassion.

In recovery, we develop sensitivity and intuition by using healthy, kind, and sustainable tools: we participate in satsang; listen to uplifting music; practice asana-postures; meditate; and serve others. These actions provide us with the deep empathy required in order to respect the planet and all of its inhabitants. As the number of peaceful people increases, so does our capacity for kindness, gentleness, compassion, and generosity. All of these things are necessary for creating a peaceful world.

Dedicating ourselves to the practice of ahimsa is part of our deepening awareness as a species. Once we adopt an empathetic lifestyle, we may take the next heartening step by compassionately sharing our way of living with others. For me, the practice of an ahimsic lifestyle is not limited to human rights, improved health, or environmental benefits. These are all wonderful things, but ahimsa encompasses so much more, particularly the multi-faceted practice of a vegan lifestyle.

Practicing veganism is empowering because we are able to choose to take responsibility for our own lives, co-exist more sustainably, be self-sufficient, and achieve both inner and outer peace. This is the bigger picture, since peace—or the unity of all life—is the goal. Every moment, we choose how to represent this planet and our fellow earthlings. May we show up more for the earth, for each other, and for all beings. The world is not changing its violent ways overnight, but we are creating the reality of peace…one lifestyle change at a time.

There are wars and many names for wars. One long war started when fellow beings were seen as “things” to be used and exploited, rather than beautiful, majestic creatures. We each experience this war internally—as well as externally—in the world and through other exploited beings. I believe we have the ability to end this war; some have already begun this process. It is possible to make a complete recovery from the destructive effects of war. Our individual choices have the power to create the changes we long to see in this world.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.