Lobsters, crabs, insects, and fish do feel pain

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

What I am writing below is in the context of first

yogic principle, which is Ahimsa (See Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras).

 

Many of us are affected when we see animals, birds, fish,

lobsters, etc. being killed for food.

 

For years modern scientists have been saying that some

creatures do not feel pain because they do not have a well developed nervous

system. Once I was told by someone speaking authoritatively that even though

lobsters are boiled alive, they do not experience any pain according to

science.

 

I immediately reject such “scientific

assertions” preferring to rely on my own gut feelings and intuition.

 

Now new studies are saying that indeed even the so

called lower level creatures like lobsters, crabs, and insects can experience

pain and suffering.

 

lobsters-and-crabs-do-feel-pain

 

Sri Ramana used to say, “Ahimsa Param Dharma”

(Nonviolence is the supreme dharma). Ancient sages have been saying it for

thousands of years that all life is interdependent and mutually supportive.

Reverence for life thus is the first principle of spiritual life.

 

In Jainism, the religion of my teacher Chitrabhanu-ji,

Nonviolence is the cardinal principle. Given below is an article by my

teacher’s wife Pramoda-ji (Pramoda Chitrabhanu) that talks about the link

between ecology and vegetarianism. Pramoda-ji is on the board of directors for

PETA in India and works for the welfare of the underprivileged and also is

involved in preventing cruelty to animals.

 

ecology-and-vegetarianism-in-jain-dharma-by-pramoda-chitrabhanu

 

Namaste and love to all

 

Yours in Bhagavan

Harsha

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Jill,

 

Thank you for that wonderful response. Your work with the dogs

and healing them from previous abuse is inspirational. I know that you have

read about Mahatama Gandhi and his philosophy of nonviolence and Ahimsa quite a

bit. It seems that Ahimsa has always been a big part of your life. You always

resonate with articles and posts on Ahimsa. It must be a great feeling of satisfaction

to see abused dogs come back to normal or at least have some peaceful and happy

moments under your loving care. I am sure that these animals profusely bless

you in their own way for whatever time you have spent with them.

 

All life is mutually interconnected. It could not be otherwise.

Everything has evolved together. Humans, animals, birds, fish, insects, plants,

trees all in their own way support each other’s existence.

 

Scientists say (and of course sometimes they are wrong too) that

billions and billions of years ago, before the big bang, there was only a small

ball, very dense of course. So the whole universe was contained in that small

dot. Well, it makes me think that all of us, humans, animals, plants, all

living forms anywhere in the universe, we were all packed tight in a small

place. Maybe everyone was hugging each other, all living beings. I don’t

know. It is sort of funny to think about! J.

 

Namaste and love to all

 

Yours in Bhagavan

Harsha

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On

Behalf Of Jill Eggers

Sunday, March 29, 2009 9:40 PM

 

Re: Lobsters, crabs, insects,

and fish do feel pain

 

 

 

Dear Harsha,

 

 

 

 

Funny you should write this just as I was thinking about

this very idea. For some reason after the opening of kundalini many years

ago I began to see and feel things--emotional states as well as physical

imbalances---in the energy fields of all living creatures, including plants and

animals. It was then I became aware that even plants have a capacity for

what we call emotion. For the past many years I have been amazed to learn

more about this subtle field through interaction with animals about the ways

they 'feel' and register emotion and fears.

 

 

 

 

 

In recent years I have been working with abused animals,

mainly dogs, through a rescue group. I foster dogs that are considered

unadoptable due to abuse and neglect, and work to get the dogs to a place

where they can trust people, and have happy lives as pets. Most of the

time these dog stories have a happy ending, and the dog ends up living a good

life with a loving family. Sometimes a dog is too far gone.

Recently I had a dog that was starved by its former owner and despite all

the vet work and loving care we could give him, he could not survive. In

that case all you can do is see the creature through to a peaceful death.

Sometimes a dog has behavior problems or physical problems from abuse

that just don't go away; then sometimes a caring home can be found that

will tolerate the dogs' special needs. I kept one of these dogs myself

and it is a joy to see her take gradual steps to normalcy and enjoyment of

life.

 

 

 

 

 

When they first come here the fear they carry is palpable;

it registers in the animal's field and also in the body. I do energy work

with the dogs and they really respond to touch, but they also respond to being

in a calm loving place. I read an article in a recent Sports Illustrated

about the dogs taken from that football player who abused all those dogs for

dogfighting. In the article a study was cited that showed that dogs that

are in the area of another dog being hurt or beaten register the same

physiological changes and stress response as the dog that is being beaten.

Similarly it seems like the dogs in my house share a field of comfort and

peace. When one is being petted or held, the others seem to wag their

tails in response. This field of interconnectedness seems to really help

the newcomer dog relax and begin to trust. A funny aspect of this field

of interconnectedness idea, is that these are bird dogs, and I also have a few

pet birds. All the dogs come here wanting to hunt the pet birds, but they

soon learn to treat the house birds as family members. Although they

chase the outdoor birds, they allow the house birds to literally walk all over

them. The other day one dog lay sleeping in the sun while the cockatiel

walked along her back, grooming her like a cowbird might walk along a cow.

It is very funny to see the birds, the old alley cat and the dogs

snuggled together napping in a sunny spot.

 

 

 

 

 

I love this work with animals. I just wrote to you,

Harsha, personally, about the difficulty of feeling union with one's fellow

human beings at some times. While writing that I was thinking of the

lesson of unity the animals teach me every day; it is easy to feel one with

them and the trees in the forest, and the flowers in the fields. I don't

fully understand the relationships we have with animals but they do us a

tremendous service, somehow helping mediate the energies of our stressful

lives, and bringing to each day a present and unconditional loving awareness,

and helping us feel part of the whole of life.

 

 

 

 

 

love,

 

 

 

 

 

Jill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Mar 29, 2009, at 8:40 PM, Harsha wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

 

What I am writing below is in the

context of first yogic principle, which is Ahimsa (See Patanjali’s

Yoga Sutras).

 

Many of us are affected when we

see animals, birds, fish, lobsters, etc. being killed for food.

 

For years modern scientists have

been saying that some creatures do not feel pain because they do not have a

well developed nervous system. Once I was told by someone speaking

authoritatively that even though lobsters are boiled alive, they do not

experience any pain according to science.

 

I immediately reject such

“scientific assertions” preferring to rely on my own gut feelings

and intuition.

 

Now new studies are saying

that indeed even the so called lower level creatures like lobsters, crabs, and

insects can experience pain and suffering.

 

lobsters-and-crabs-do-feel-pain

 

Sri Ramana used to say,

“Ahimsa Param Dharma” (Nonviolence is the supreme dharma). Ancient

sages have been saying it for thousands of years that all life is

interdependent and mutually supportive. Reverence for life thus is the first

principle of spiritual life.

 

In Jainism, the religion of my

teacher Chitrabhanu-ji, Nonviolence is the cardinal principle. Given below is

an article by my teacher’s wife Pramoda-ji (Pramoda Chitrabhanu) that

talks about the link between ecology and vegetarianism. Pramoda-ji is on the

board of directors for PETA in India and works for the welfare of the

underprivileged and also is involved in preventing cruelty to animals.

 

ecology-and-vegetarianism-in-jain-dharma-by-pramoda-chitrabhanu

 

Namaste and love to all

 

Yours in Bhagavan

Harsha