Do animals have soul and mind? Can they, like us, worry, rejoice, be sad? Distinguish between good and bad, do they have empathy or unreasonable cruelty, like people? Let's try to figure it out and answer at least some of the questions.
There are several versions regarding the presence of an immortal soul in various religious doctrines. Buddhism and Hinduism, professing the theory of reincarnation and transmigration of souls, claim that all animals have an immortal soul. In one concept, it is believed that we are all once cats, dogs, cows or butterflies. Another philosophical trend teaches that, having been born an animal, you will forever remain imprisoned in a shaggy or scaly body, and you will never become a human.
Whether it is true or not, we will never be able to confirm or deny, everything has to be taken on faith.
There is an opinion that Christianity does not support the idea of the existence of a soul in animals. But this is not the case. There are even "special" saints who are considered patrons of pets. For Catholics, for example, this is St. Francis of Assisi. The current Pope chose the name of this particular saint, as he adores animals. Especially cats. Advanced Christians do not regard the dog as an "unclean" animal. The late Patriarch Alexy had a Pikinesse dog.
In the Orthodox tradition, it is not customary to offend animals. On the contrary, a person who mocked and tormented the animal was censured. Saint Seraphim of Sarov, who lived as a hermit, is depicted in canonical icons surrounded by wild animals. It is customary to pray to him when trouble happens to the animal and it gets sick. It is believed that the higher a person is in Spirit, the more respectful all rational creatures are to him.
In Thailand, there is a famous Tiger Temple. Monks and wild animals live nearby. Tigers feel great without cages, do not attack people, and monks look at them like big cats. Could it be true that it is the power of the human Spirit?
Hindus consider cows, dogs, elephants and monkeys sacred. None of these animals can be offended: neither shout, nor hit, nor drive away. Tourists wonder why, if the animals are sacred, they sometimes look not very well-groomed? The reason is in the beliefs of the Hindus: it is believed that if a cow gets old, gets sick and can die, it will bring misfortune to the family. Therefore, they try to let the animal go to "free grazing" so that it dies outside the family hearth. No one has the right to hit or kill an animal, so the cows calmly walk along the city streets, attracting the attention of compassionate foreigners. You cannot push away and get angry even at annoying and impudent monkeys who, feeling impunity, hooligans heartily: snatch food and things from the hands of gape of tourists.
By the way, monkeys are not for nothing considered the most highly organized creatures: they even have a sense of humor. Distant human ancestors love to tease tigers. Gorillas, like children, stretch their ears and tail under the noses of striped cats. When they become ferocious and rush at the offenders, the monkeys deftly flee, and then return.
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Elephants help their relatives in trouble and wait until old and sick individuals catch up with the herd if they are behind. Dolphins love to look at themselves in mirrors.
It seems to me that birds also have a soul. In any case, in lizards and large parrots belonging to the family. It is a pleasure to observe both. I once watched as two crows purposefully trolled a cat that was eating a piece of meat. One was pulling her tail, the other was getting close to the food. The cat could not stand it, chased the offender, and the second crow calmly grabbed a piece. At the same time, she was not going to share with her partner, for which she was mercilessly beaten by her friend. But then, the birds reconciled, and already the cat watched with annoyance the feast of the winged friends. She did not dare to approach them. These birds definitely have both a soul and a mind, which another two-legged creature can envy. They say that magpies love not only everything shiny, but also communicate with their reflection in mirrored surfaces. Well, what, not human habits.
Once I had a chance to talk with a professor, doctor of Tibetan medicine. It was small and dry, like a Buddhist autumn leaf.
He had a higher medical education, he was also able to identify diseases at an early stage by the color of the iris and the pulse.
The smiling translator said that the doctor was ready to do this "trick" with me, but I refused in fear, referring to the fact that I did not want to burden my dear guest with problems. We had a nice conversation about life and his work. Somehow I had a word, and I joked that in my next life I want to become some kind of sacred animal. For example, a rich man's favorite dog. The Buddhist doctor listened to the translator and answered something in his melodious language. The translator nodded and said, “The professor said no. It's already impossible. You were a dog, but since you were already born a man, there is no turning back."
Then I was surprised for the first time how a man in an expensive European suit, in all seriousness, answered a joking phrase about a possible reincarnation. However, for someone who knows how to read diseases in the eyes, this is quite natural. In his mind, innovative methods of cancer treatment and belief in transmigration of souls easily fit. I wish I could, and not only me. Many problems and disappointments could have been avoided, how many sorrows and sorrows can be endured more easily if you believe in an upcoming meeting in another life.
And if now I run inside the Wheel of Samsara in human form, it means that my dog will someday grow to this status. And not only my dog, but all our four-legged friends who leave so early. Maybe in the next life we will have to meet all our younger brothers in a different capacity? We will painfully remember where we could have seen this person, but everything is simple: many years ago, wagging his tail or purring, he met us on the doorstep! But we won't remember ourselves either, and this makes it a little sad.
