What do you understand the interaction between Animals & Humans to be?

Greetings Blessed Bee,

It is my understanding that humans and animals are the same essence operating through different forms. In a similar manner as electricity runs appliances designed for specific purposes, essence enables various forms to function in a specific manner. Therefore the one essence is the base which enables various forms to function and is the foundation of consciousness. Thus, underlying the function of each form is this essence, awareness, the source, light, The Absolute, The Supreme, God, love or other verbal labels for That which really has no name. A human form is wired to function as a human does, a cat a cat, a dog a dog, a cow a cow etc.., but it must be remembered there can be no appearance of form without the one Absolute, which is one not two. It is my opinion that a human being who feels superior to any life form is suffering in ignorance and needs to reflect deeply on the Absolute, the very heart of existence prior to the sense of separation.

I share my life with three cats and a dog who are loved and cherished as part of a family. We give them the utmost in love, comfort, care and dignity in sickness and health. Animals are sentient beings with feelings, and each has a distinct personality and character traits. Throughout life I have honestly loved and cared for many animals and have truly grieved when some were lost. Unfortunately, here in North America we live in a heavy meat eating culture and there are times when meat eating cannot be avoided. I admit there are times when I partake in the flesh of dead animals, usually so for social reasons and sometimes when I instinctively feel the body needs some. When doing so, gratitude and awareness is placed for the sacrifice. It is from a set of strict principles that I refuse to consume factory raised mass produced animals. These are ethical and moral reasons due to a belief that these institutions raise animals in inhospitable, inhumane, crowded, uncomfortable conditions, placing undue tension and fear into the animals psyche/cellular structure. Underlying the prevalent mental illness common in our modern society lies the improper use of meat which is raised in deplorable conditions. Essentially the suffering of the animals is transfered to the consumer in a more subtle manner creating roots for anger and other negative mental issues.

Also, the feed and drugs supplied for these mass produced animals is suspect not only for the health of the animals, but the mental/physical health of humans who mindlessly consume the meat from these animals. If I consume meat it is done so with mindfulness from wild sources or animals raised with humane care on small organic farms. It is my opinion that for a healthy rational human being interaction between themselves and animals is from the heart with love and respect. Therefore, love is the connection, and is the only acceptable interaction between humans and animals is love and respect. At least it is so in the spark of consciousness I experience a world. Love is our nature and animals are a spark of divinity and therefore love!

Interesting thougths, but i don't understand my cat, and neither do i understand ants, or sharks, or squids. So going by your theory, then God does not understand me, which is quite possible i suppose. I agree, that if there were a God, then we couldn't begin to understand the nature of that God. How could we begin to understand the nature of an omnipotent being? i don't even understand my own nature a lot of the time, or the people around me, and i dont know why i am here or what, exactly, i am. And why do you think that animals don't have a spirit? Animals are spirit creatures too.. havent you walked through a forest at night? ;-) All the best, zag

I have often come to suspect that humans unjustifiably place themselves above all the other creatures on the planet. I think they should be more willing to share the earth with them as equals and to regard them as fellow creatures the earth, not subordinate ones. I think it may be possible that humans have rather traded in one capacity in exchange for others. The other animals would have other abilities in greater proportion. It may be true that humans are more rational and adaptable for the performance of intellectual tasks. It is also well to remember, however, that human beings are the creatures who appear to be ruining the planet, both politically and ecologically, and are the most likely to destroy it altogether through war. If they do not learn to treat other animals and life forms, including other human beings with greater respect, this presumably superior intellect ultimately will lead them to no good. Rationality can proceed at the expense of instinct and intuition.

I personally have trouble with the idea of eating animals. When people take from them and do not give back or even treat them right, they are robbing them. Their wrongful actions will catch up with them at some time.

As humans, we have the ability to think logically, to understand, and to draw conclusions. We have language, reasoning, and much higher

thought processes than the animals. We have progressed so fast

in the last 100 years. We can literally destroy the very planet, our

home, for all species of life. It's all in our hands. All life depends on

the decisions we will make every day towards ALL of our futures.

Love, kindness, and mercy for animals and ALL life, should be our goal.

This interaction should be our understanding!

One day I was letting my dog out first thing in the morning. It had snowed a few inches, and when I opened the door, he seemed to be rather rudely surprised. I swear he gave me a look as if to say, "Why did you do this?" He seemed to convey to me that he didn't appreciate the snow, but he would deal with it anyway. After all, he did have to answer the call of the wild, so to speak. It was amusing. Since then, I wonder if he thinks I make the sun rise and set, among other things.

Could human be between dog and god?

Anyone who has had a pet can tell you that there is no real difference between humans and many other beings. The comprehension level may be different but don't we also see this among our fellow humans as well.

They way we interact, understand and feel about animals is a huge mirror into who, what and HOW we really are as humans.

The way we regard any being be it animal, child, or another less cognitive adult is a tell all as to what's driving each of us around.

I see all animals (humans included) as being equal. Very different, of course, but I believe our worth is equal.

How do I express or honor my understanding in my day to day life, you ask?

I am the big cat (jaguar, lion, cougar, tiger, etc.) caretaker at an animal sanctuary. Every day I work my fingers to the bone doing everything to make sure the cats are perfectly healthy and happy. I give them the respect and affection that they deserve from humans. I take them in after they have been abused, mistreated or neglected by humans and nurse them back to health.

We also take in injures/ill/orphaned wildlife and rehabilitate them for release back into the wild.

In short, my life is dedicated to helping animals who have suffered at the hands of irresponsible or cruel humans and I love my work.

:)

People, in the contact with animals experience a decrease in blood pressure, reduced anxiety, and a general feeling of well being.

By observing the behavior of animals, children learn to be more nurturing and perhaps better parents to their own children.

The therapeutic value of animals for socially isolated individuals in nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, and prisons has been documented.

People in the presence of animals are often perceived to be more happy and healthy.

The Human-Animal Bond is the dynamic relationship between people and animals in that each influences the psychological and physiological state of the other.

the biggest different between human and animal comes with the ability to think rationally ! Not by the brain of course and not by genes definitely.

we are not animals because have you seen any animals have trained to do anything other species which is inferior to it.

and we do... So we are not animals

but we are considered animal when we lose the rational. Logic right ?

They say chimps can think... but actually the do that by imitating or adapting themselves to the enviroment but human are different. We do not emitate other species behaviour and we change the environment to adapt with ourselves.

but we tend to emitate the animals when we lose the rational...

when something like stupid we referred to animal ? because of the ' rational thing' . they simply do not have that. the ability to differentiate the right or wrong.

until today i`m grateful to be human

I think people like to believe they are superior to other species in order to sustain their ego-like a bully puts others down to hide his/her own insecurities. I don't understand how people could believe that some ultimate being created life and gave us the ablility to feel, yet made one species superior over others. It can't honestly be denied that animals have feelings and the will to survive as much as we do ourselves. Just because they show their affections differently to the way we do doesn't mean they don't have any.