Guest guest Posted May 24, 2001 Report Share Posted May 24, 2001 Dear friends, In my readings and study, so far, (mostly in the collected sayings and talks of Sri Ramana), I have yet to come across any statements or teachings about animals in Advaita. Could someone point me to where I could learn about this, or perhaps offer a brief overview of the subject? I have had many wonderful discussions over the years with Buddhist friends on this subject, and would be very interested to know in what ways, if any, Advaita is similar of different from Buddhism about animals. Not that I'm looking for a comparison -- I'd just like to know what, if anything, Shankara and others in Advaita teaching have to say about animals and enlightenment. Of course in Buddhism, this subject is very much tied in with the thought of reincarnation and karma. Is that also the case with Advaita? >From what I have read so far of Sri Ramana, I have this feeling if I were to ask him, "What about animals?" he might well reply with a gentle smile, "Who is asking? Discover the Self and you will have your answer." <g> I guess there's no denying that! And this was also often his answer, for example, to questions about life after death and such. But sometimes, he would also answer the sincere questions about life after death in ways adjusted to the inquirer's level of understanding, and talk in relative terms about bodily conditions and existence "after death" and so on. So I hope that there also might be such teaching and explanation about animals and enlightenment in Advaita. Personally, I might add that I have know some truly remarkable animals in my life -- dogs, cats, bird, a horse -- that have shown remarkable intelligence, unconditional love, and dare I say, great soulfulness. I could never accept, as some Christians do, that animals have no souls (quite apart from the problem of many souls or one Great Soul or Self.) Of course, there is also the larger issue of nature, including plants and animals, but mostly I want to know: What about animals? What are they understood to be in Advaita? How do they break free of The Great Wheel, as my Buddhist friends put it? Or do they? Is moksha for animals too? If so, how do they attain it? Through us? Or themselves? I hope these questions don't seem hopelessly naive or dumb! Thanks in advance for any insight you might be able to offer. The generosity of spirit of this forum is always so wonderful. Blessings to All, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2001 Report Share Posted May 25, 2001 Namaste Sri Steveji The incident of the cow Lakshmi attaining Moksha in the presence of Sri Ramana is well known. Ramana Maharshi sometimes commented that Siddhas often roamed in the area (of Arunachala) in the guise of animals. In the Hindu scriptures, the stories of yogis going astray from the path and reincarnating as an animal to work out certain karmas (before attaining Moksha in that life or some future life) can be found as well. Love to all Harsha stevenfair [stevenfair] Friday, May 25, 2001 1:47 AM advaitin Advaita and animals - what is the teaching? Dear friends, In my readings and study, so far, (mostly in the collected sayings and talks of Sri Ramana), I have yet to come across any statements or teachings about animals in Advaita. Could someone point me to where I could learn about this, or perhaps offer a brief overview of the subject? I have had many wonderful discussions over the years with Buddhist friends on this subject, and would be very interested to know in what ways, if any, Advaita is similar of different from Buddhism about animals. Not that I'm looking for a comparison -- I'd just like to know what, if anything, Shankara and others in Advaita teaching have to say about animals and enlightenment. Of course in Buddhism, this subject is very much tied in with the thought of reincarnation and karma. Is that also the case with Advaita? >From what I have read so far of Sri Ramana, I have this feeling if I were to ask him, "What about animals?" he might well reply with a gentle smile, "Who is asking? Discover the Self and you will have your answer." <g> I guess there's no denying that! And this was also often his answer, for example, to questions about life after death and such. But sometimes, he would also answer the sincere questions about life after death in ways adjusted to the inquirer's level of understanding, and talk in relative terms about bodily conditions and existence "after death" and so on. So I hope that there also might be such teaching and explanation about animals and enlightenment in Advaita. Personally, I might add that I have know some truly remarkable animals in my life -- dogs, cats, bird, a horse -- that have shown remarkable intelligence, unconditional love, and dare I say, great soulfulness. I could never accept, as some Christians do, that animals have no souls (quite apart from the problem of many souls or one Great Soul or Self.) Of course, there is also the larger issue of nature, including plants and animals, but mostly I want to know: What about animals? What are they understood to be in Advaita? How do they break free of The Great Wheel, as my Buddhist friends put it? Or do they? Is moksha for animals too? If so, how do they attain it? Through us? Or themselves? I hope these questions don't seem hopelessly naive or dumb! Thanks in advance for any insight you might be able to offer. The generosity of spirit of this forum is always so wonderful. Blessings to All, Steve Discussion of Shankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy of nonseparablity of Atman and Brahman. Advaitin List Archives available at: http://www.eScribe.com/culture/advaitin/ To Post a message send an email to : advaitin Messages Archived at: advaitin/messages Your use of is subject to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2001 Report Share Posted May 25, 2001 Viewpoint from the Absolute ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Everything you witness is a part of the mind. The world arises when the mind comes out of slumber and the world sets with mind going into slumber. (More details refer to Sat Darshanam of Sri Ramana Maharshi). Hence any creature that you see is dependent on the state of your mind. In the absolute state there is neither a Jnani nor an Ajnani and hence the question of animals and there liberaton does not arise. Viewpoint from the Relative ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There are many tales about animals getting Liberation. The tale of Gajendra Moksha (Release of the Elephant)is popular. The elephant was deeply devoted to Lord Vishnu and hence was saved and liberated from the jaws of a crocodile. When Lord Sri Rama, left the earth, he gave Moksha to every creature that followed Him. Apart from that, even in recent times there are examples such as the Cow Lakshmi of Sri Ramana Ashram who was liberated by Ramana Maharshi. There is the story of Keshavan elephant of Guruvayur Lord Krishna temple who is said to have merged into the Deity at the time of death. Therefore animals also get liberated. Srimad Bhagavad Gita says, that according to the mode of nature (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas) that dominates your mind at the time of death, your future is decided. Therefore if we behave as animals in this life, our next life will be that of an animal. Similarly there are many animals which behave better than human beings. Dont you think that in their next life they will be atleast born as a noble person ? This is the relative viewpoint to my understanding. Regards, Anand > larger issue of nature, including plants and > animals, but mostly I > want to know: What about animals? What are they > understood > to be in Advaita? How do they break free of The > Great Wheel, as > my Buddhist friends put it? Or do they? Is moksha > for animals > too? If so, how do they attain it? Through us? Or > themselves? I > hope these questions don't seem hopelessly naive or > dumb! > Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions./ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2001 Report Share Posted May 25, 2001 Namaste, Within living memory, Sri Ramana's dealings with 'animals' have been described as being no different than with humans. He saw them as different 'masks' of the SELF. It would be hard, if not impossible, to hold back one's tears when reading visitors' descriptions of the lessons Sri Ramana taught by the way he greeted animals. There is a story of sparrows complaing to him about their nest being removed; monkey leaders coming to him to settle their disputes; squirrels frolicking; and so on and on. There are samadhis to three animals on the ashram grounds. Sri Ramana would insist on everyone being served first before he would eat, and that included any animals present. He even composed a poem honoring the hornets who once bit him as he accidentally disturbed their nest! Regards, s. advaitin, "Harsha" <harsha-hkl@h...> wrote: > Namaste Sri Steveji > > The incident of the cow Lakshmi attaining Moksha in the presence of Sri > Ramana is well known> larger issue of nature, including plants and animals, but mostly I > want to know: What about animals? What are they understood > to be in Advaita? How do they break free of The Great Wheel, as > my Buddhist friends put it? Or do they? Is moksha for animals > too? If so, how do they attain it? Through us? Or themselves? I > hope these questions don't seem hopelessly naive or dumb! > > Thanks in advance for any insight you might be able to offer. The > generosity of spirit of this forum is always so wonderful. > > Blessings to All, > Steve > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2001 Report Share Posted May 25, 2001 Namaste, One of the classic references to this is in Gita ; 5:18 - vidyaavinayasaMpanne braahmaNe gavi hastini . shuni chaiva shvapaake cha paNDitaaH samadarshinaH .. Sages see with an equal eye a learned and humble Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, or even a dog or an outcaste. Regards, s. advaitin, sunderh wrote: > Namaste, > > Within living memory, Sri Ramana's dealings with 'animals' have > been described as being no different than with humans. He saw them as > different 'masks' of the SELF. > > It would be hard, if not impossible, to hold back one's tears > when reading visitors' descriptions of the lessons Sri Ramana taught > by the way he greeted animals. > > There is a story of sparrows complaing to him about their nest > being removed; monkey leaders coming to him to settle their disputes; > squirrels frolicking; and so on and on. There are samadhis to three > animals on the ashram grounds. > > Sri Ramana would insist on everyone being served first before he > would eat, and that included any animals present. > > He even composed a poem honoring the hornets who once bit him as > he accidentally disturbed their nest! > > > Regards, > > s. advaitin, "Harsha" <harsha-hkl@h...> wrote: > > Namaste Sri Steveji > > > > The incident of the cow Lakshmi attaining Moksha in the > presence of Sri > > Ramana is well known> larger issue of nature, including plants and > animals, but mostly I > > want to know: What about animals? What are they understood > > to be in Advaita? How do they break free of The Great Wheel, as > > my Buddhist friends put it? Or do they? Is moksha for animals > > too? If so, how do they attain it? Through us? Or themselves? I > > hope these questions don't seem hopelessly naive or dumb! > > > > Thanks in advance for any insight you might be able to offer. The > > generosity of spirit of this forum is always so wonderful. > > > > Blessings to All, > > Steve > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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