ShivaFan
16 May 2012, 06:56 AM
I am not aware of any particular or generic prohibition against pets in Saivism. There may be examples of certain animals as being considered "dirty" or less. There may be examples of some living animals as less desirable than others, for example a pet which would likely be problematic to a human quarters where a form of meditation practice could be disturbed, or allowing a pet free access to the inner sanctum of a temple, and other examples -- but I do not find broad discrimination against pets in Saivism as I do find for example in Islam against dogs, where there are examples of Muslim taxi drivers refusing a passenger with a dog because the dog is condemned as dirty in Islam.
In my family, we have a loving and so very intelligent pet dog. When I look into my little dog's eyes, I know she has a soul. When I interact, play, or share love I know that this little pet's soul is full of being and is on a journey to her next life form or beyond to enlightenment.
Some scientists say my dog does not have a soul - perhaps they look inside of her with a microscope and they do not see her soul. Or they look into the sky with a telescope and they say, "I don't see any soul"....
But to me, I know that the eye of that scientist is not perfect. It can only see some things and only so far. And the eyes of the person who makes the microscope is imperfect, the hands not steady enough no matter what instrument is used - the resulting microscope is therefore also imperfect, there are many unknown or unperceived defects and imperfections inherited from the maker of the instrument whose eyes, ears, touch, smell, sense of time and perception are all imperfect, does not perceive, is limited in dimension and time.
And so, while there is great functional benefit to many inventions, and I love and welcome the genius of so many inventions, I also understand as a Hindu that all of these things are limited in ability and design, defective in it's very clockwork, limited within dimension, and every eye, ear or hand using it is also limited, imperfect, open to great error no matter how perfect and correct the math of 1 plus 1 equals 2 may seem. And what seems true today suddenly is not true if you are standing on Jupiter.
I have no mechanical instrument to prove that my dog has a soul. I just know it. A soul to soul Bluetooth connection if you will knows it.
Is anyone aware of a prohibition in Saivism to a pet dog? Yes, there are rules around access to the dog - I would not have my dog eat from the same plate as mine, or to run in circles around and over and into a murthi of religion, and so forth. But I also know that in Hindism, there are even celebrations for some, such as in Nepal where the dog is given a garland.
My dog has a soul. And I know most agree with me. Once a great Rabbi said that a dog does not have a soul - and my goodness! You should have heard the outrage of callers to this talk radio Rabbi from those listeners who love and admire this great and wise Rabbi. It was the first and only time I actually could detect his questioning in his own mind, his clear exposure to being, well, rattled ... And his obvious happiness to move onto some other subject.
It was not me who challenged him, for I am not of the stature or wisdom to try and be a spokesperson for some side of this argument, nor did I try. But my goodness, the outrage from callers! It is simply natural to know that the animals of this world, so many whom are our friends, have a soul. I love the beautiful cows of India --- they are beautiful!
They have a soul. Do you agree?
In my family, we have a loving and so very intelligent pet dog. When I look into my little dog's eyes, I know she has a soul. When I interact, play, or share love I know that this little pet's soul is full of being and is on a journey to her next life form or beyond to enlightenment.
Some scientists say my dog does not have a soul - perhaps they look inside of her with a microscope and they do not see her soul. Or they look into the sky with a telescope and they say, "I don't see any soul"....
But to me, I know that the eye of that scientist is not perfect. It can only see some things and only so far. And the eyes of the person who makes the microscope is imperfect, the hands not steady enough no matter what instrument is used - the resulting microscope is therefore also imperfect, there are many unknown or unperceived defects and imperfections inherited from the maker of the instrument whose eyes, ears, touch, smell, sense of time and perception are all imperfect, does not perceive, is limited in dimension and time.
And so, while there is great functional benefit to many inventions, and I love and welcome the genius of so many inventions, I also understand as a Hindu that all of these things are limited in ability and design, defective in it's very clockwork, limited within dimension, and every eye, ear or hand using it is also limited, imperfect, open to great error no matter how perfect and correct the math of 1 plus 1 equals 2 may seem. And what seems true today suddenly is not true if you are standing on Jupiter.
I have no mechanical instrument to prove that my dog has a soul. I just know it. A soul to soul Bluetooth connection if you will knows it.
Is anyone aware of a prohibition in Saivism to a pet dog? Yes, there are rules around access to the dog - I would not have my dog eat from the same plate as mine, or to run in circles around and over and into a murthi of religion, and so forth. But I also know that in Hindism, there are even celebrations for some, such as in Nepal where the dog is given a garland.
My dog has a soul. And I know most agree with me. Once a great Rabbi said that a dog does not have a soul - and my goodness! You should have heard the outrage of callers to this talk radio Rabbi from those listeners who love and admire this great and wise Rabbi. It was the first and only time I actually could detect his questioning in his own mind, his clear exposure to being, well, rattled ... And his obvious happiness to move onto some other subject.
It was not me who challenged him, for I am not of the stature or wisdom to try and be a spokesperson for some side of this argument, nor did I try. But my goodness, the outrage from callers! It is simply natural to know that the animals of this world, so many whom are our friends, have a soul. I love the beautiful cows of India --- they are beautiful!
They have a soul. Do you agree?