Professor Richard Davidson, a renowned neuroscientist, met with the Dalai Lama in 1992. Davidson had achieved his reputation studying anxiety and depression, but the Dalai Lama asked him instead to study how compassion develops in the brain.

Since then Davidson has proceeded with determination on this important pathway using human subjects. He has used meditation extensively as a means to calm the mind, heal trauma, and at the same time literally expand the area of the brain where compassion lies. This is so important to us because it means that there are many people in whom that area of the brain may not be developed enough to allow them to feel compassion for animals.

Severe trauma, stress, and growing up without someone to teach empathy can reduce one's ability to "know" the suffering of another. But conversely having the opportunity to learn meditation and heal trauma can actually grow that area of the brain where compassion dwells and aches to expand.

As we visualize a world at peace for all beings, this can not only give us hope but also help us understand those who do not respond to the vegan message. In our prayers this week let us focus on the bountiful capacity of the human brain to literally grow and expand til all human actions come into harmony with our true natures. Let us hold the vision that all human beings are right now healing and growing their compassionate natures as our brains come to understand what our hearts have always known.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and visionary thoughts. Thanks to all of you, compassion is encircling the earth for all beings. Thank you for your devotion to truth, love, liberation and peace for all beings.

With Love, peace, and gratitude from Judy, and Will, Madeleine, and the Circle of Compassion team.

If you haven’t already done so, please join us at the Prayer Circle for Animals facebook page.

(Your donations allow us to continue and expand this prayer ministry)