If you do not love animals, you will never go anywhere in spirituality. If you are getting anywhere, you will not eat them. It just works this way. It is a sign of refining consciousness.
This section will be dedicated to all things associated with saving creatures’ lives and turning indifference into a recognition that all living creatures are sentient beings, that is, they are conscious, and pure consciousness loves itself in any and all of its manifestations.
The first of the four Buddhist vows is, “Sentient beings are numberless; I vow to save them all.” Not just this being or that being, but all of them. (I was quite shocked to learn when I was a Buddhist monk, that even monks from many countries ate meat. Go figure.) You need, as part of your spiritual growth, to know that you are sentience only and that all sentience is wonderful, to be protected and nurtured no matter what form it takes. I am my brother's keeper, my parents' keeper, the keeper and shepherd of all the birds, insects, animals, vegetation--all living things. They are mine to protect.
During the past decade there has been a remarkable turning around in the mass consciousness in the West regarding our relationship with animals. It manifests as rescue and humane groups regarding companion animals, the vegetarian movement associated with farm animals, the anti fur and anti circus animal groups, etc.
In the US, this work is progressing on several fronts: Rescue and humane groups, the No-Kill advocate groups, the activist groups and political action groups, and finally, the underground groups unfairly characterized as terrorists.
Regarding the rescue and humane groups for which I have the highest regard are Alley Cat Allies, the Feral Cat Alliance and Rescue Me (The organization, not the TV show. I cannot find a link to Rescue Me.). The latter two are local California groups.
The No-Kill shelter movement is spearheaded by the brilliant Nathan Winograd. When I was active in trying to find a new General Manager for Los Angeles’s Animal Services, no matter who and where I called all over the country, one name was on everyone’s lips: Nathan Winograd.
Nathan now has launched a revolution towards changing the way pound systems all over the country are operated. Partially due to his work, San Francisco has come to the point where in 2003, only 1,741 animals were euthanized compared to almost 40,000 in Los Angeles. Even taking into account the relative size of the two cities, San Francisco's kill rate is 80% less than Los Angeles.
So, how was this accomplished? Take a look at Nathan's site, and tell him I sent you. If what he says strikes deep and true, help him out. Attached below is his No-Kill Declaration.
The third prong of the growing sentient being network are the political activist groups, whose activities range from the usual leafletting and picketing, to political pressure, to civil disobedience.
Nationally, there is PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Their vast website will show you many of their past and current campaigns and achievements.
I spent 27 investigating myself before I found out I did not exist. Since that time, I have been increasingly involved in saving and protecting all life. It may not appear to make sense from a theoretic, Advaitin perspective, but it makes total, universal sense from the perspective of heart.
I hope that some day, all of mankind will view with horror and guilt how we have treated animals for the past thousands of years.
I am sure some of you will ask what this has to do with spirituality. Aren’t spiritual people supposed to be passive and like all good Advaitins, recognize that this is all illusion only and that the movements within consciousness are pre-ordained anyway?
Yes, this world is an illusion, but our actions too are also pre-ordained as part of the Waking Dream. People who use the “supposed to” arguments, do so that they are not impelled to do anything, including spiritual practices, so that they can go back to sleep in front of their televisions.
Robert was totally compassionate about animals. He was vegan. He wore no leather. He loved his dog Dimitri because, he said if it were not for him, he would not have much to do with the world. He hated how people treated animals. Ramana Maharshi's last words were apparently, "Has the peacock been fed?" We should look towards their examples rather than mess with reasons why we should not be involved in compassionate actions in the world. As Robert would say, “Do not be a cold fish!”
