Wildlife (video, Sept. 25, 2016); Crystal Quintero, Sheldon S., Wisdom Quarterly
Now, listen up, Wolfy. I've had my eye on you from up above. Bad boy, bad boy! I will poo on your head and caw in your ear. Now this hurts me more than you, so shape up.
Are animals real? Do they have karma?
Editors, Wisdom Quarterly (COMMENTARY)
We don't believe in ghosts, we don't believe in angels, but somehow we believe in animals. Why? We can all see
them. We don't believe in the ones we can't all see (like the
cryptids).
Animals are not humans. Animals are spiritual. Humans, in addition to being human, are part animal and part spiritual.
The karma that brought beings to rebirth in the animal world (tirachana loka) is karma inferior to actions that brings one to rebirth in the human world (manusya loka) -- the Five Precepts. This happens when karma finally ripens, which can be a while.
Animals, while inferior to humans and other beings for the time being, are not really animals any more than humans are stuck being human. We are not trapped in this state, in these bodies, with these potentials and limitations.
We devolve, and evolve, and continue to cycle through the realms (samsara)
chasing sensuality, motivated by greed, aversion, and delusion. So,
too, animals will not always be animals. In the past, they were not
animals. All beings, though limited now, have potential for much more
than we are expressing.
We are all bound by karma until we are liberated by enlightenment and enjoy nirvana. Be considerate to animals. The karma (actions) toward them ripens just as does the karma toward other humans. Be kind to humans, but also be kind to animals.
Most people have no idea what animals are doing, how they are living, what becomes of them when they pass on.
The Buddha knew and he often talked about it in the Jataka Tales, which are generally regarded as Aesop's Fables. But mention of animals in the sutras reinforces that the Jatakas are closer to truth than we could ever imagine.
Editors, Wisdom Quarterly (COMMENTARY)
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| Countless worlds in 31 Planes of Existence |
Animals are not humans. Animals are spiritual. Humans, in addition to being human, are part animal and part spiritual.
The karma that brought beings to rebirth in the animal world (tirachana loka) is karma inferior to actions that brings one to rebirth in the human world (manusya loka) -- the Five Precepts. This happens when karma finally ripens, which can be a while.
Animals, while inferior to humans and other beings for the time being, are not really animals any more than humans are stuck being human. We are not trapped in this state, in these bodies, with these potentials and limitations.
 |
| Animals are in the Round of Rebirth like us. |
We are all bound by karma until we are liberated by enlightenment and enjoy nirvana. Be considerate to animals. The karma (actions) toward them ripens just as does the karma toward other humans. Be kind to humans, but also be kind to animals.
Most people have no idea what animals are doing, how they are living, what becomes of them when they pass on.
The Buddha knew and he often talked about it in the Jataka Tales, which are generally regarded as Aesop's Fables. But mention of animals in the sutras reinforces that the Jatakas are closer to truth than we could ever imagine.
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