ANIMALS LIKE HUMANITY
On Tuesday, August 15, 2023, I have a very interesting discussion with one of my business partners. It is our standard 6 AM morning call that helps both to start the day with new thoughts and curiosity.
We touched on politics and we came to the fact that HUMANS call themself the top of Evolution. I started to ask why if so imperfect, and our discussion took a very different direction after that.
The first question to be asked is
- WHY DO WE CALL OURSELF TO BE AT THE TOP WHEN ONE OF THE WEAKEST CREATURES
- ARE WE SO SPECIAL BECAUSE WE NEED FOR EVERY WHETHER AND MOMENT DIFFERENT CLOTHING?
- ARE WE SO EXTRAORDINARY BECAUSE TO CREATE A HOUSE WE NEED TO CREATE THE “BUILDING STONES” AND IMPORT THEM FROM LONG DISTANT LOCATIONS?
- ARE WE SPECIAL BECAUSE WE CAN HARDLY LIFT HALF OF OUR OWN WEIGHT?
- OR BECAUSE WE KILL FOR FUN?
- OR BECAUSE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK USUALLY ONLY ONE LANGUAGE AND AFTER LEAVING OUR TERRITORY WE ARE NOT BEING UNDERSTOOD?
- OR…
What makes us so special that we excluded ourselves from NATURE creating artificial worlds and VIRTUAL NATURE to show up our “exclusivity”
In fact, we have “PATENTED” one EXCLUSIVITY. This is the introduction of COMPLICATION as OUR BENEFIT and to “MANAGE” OUR LIVES better we have introduced MONEY
Something that can not be eaten, or drunk, and if not exchanged for goods, it can be only burned to keep us warm for a short moment or for even shorter bring light into the darkness.
MONEY helps us to buy what we do not need, in volumes that we never consume, from places that we will never see and if we use it the time we use it is up to a hundred thousand times shorter than the time it spent on the way.
Because the topic resonates with me so strongly, I decided to dedicate the next POWER OF TOUCH, LINKEDIN LIVE AUDIO event to this topic and I did right, it deliver one of the richest discussions in which the speakers, that joined me on stage PAT ARMISTEAD, PRAMILA THAPA, KUNAALL DEVMANE, and MICHAEL TWIST, so strongly contributed that this article will carry their thoughts about the topic.
THOUGHTSCAPES
From Pat Armitstead
So many questions posed and we cannot answer all of them so some thoughtscapes added to pose intrigue and encourage curiousity.
Is there an animal inside of you ? I would have to say I carry some of the wiley fox, the memory of an elephant, an eye for beauty like the bower bird, and the capacity for metamorphosis like the butterfly! I ( inconsistently ) can go with the flow like a bird in high wind.
Do animals learn from humans ? They communicate and connect now in ways that 100 years ago we did not notice. Dolphins in their clicking now see this behaviour in healers with their clicking around auras. Whales now often bound by mans fishing nets approach humans for help to be released. Dogs respond willingly to discipline, guided activity and kindness … and they mourn our loss. As does the elephant mourn the loss of humans who pass over in their midst. Is this a result of our rising consciousness or was it always there but we did not yet see?
What are the lessons from nature? Life is like the seasons….leaves fall in the winter and come again in the spring. The tide comes in and goes out with seasonal peaks and troughs. Crows and many others are scavengers and what others discard they take up. There is this interdependence that links strongly to an eco system that demonstrates homeostasis. Humans…animals…nature is forever on that path to maintaining homeostasis.
What have we become disconnected from? Stephen Jenkinson always replaces any food source he takes from nature with a token from his spiritual pouch… a symbol of thankyou for the nourishment . It could be a stone, a feather, a rock, a pebble, a piece of fur. Clarissa Pinkola Estes says we have lost touch with the bare bones of our instinctual selves. Out indigenous cultures have not lost that to the degree we have. They know and recognise and have stories of the movement around them which shapes the reverence they hold for the bond between humans and nature.
I don’t know if the image will work but this image is a wonderful reminder about being conscious in each moment.
Amidst this departure from the natural world, there are cultural pockets that have managed to preserve their reverence for the natural world and its inhabitants. One prime example lies in the heart of the Indian subcontinent.
In India, animals like cows, elephants, and monkeys are considered sacred entities and are even revered as deities in some cases. The cow, often associated with the goddess Kamadhenu, is considered a symbol of wealth, selflessness, and purity. It is common to see cows wandering freely on the streets, respected and cared for by the people. Moving northward to Nepal, the cow’s veneration is shared, and the country holds a special place for another animal: the cow’s humped companion, the ox. Often associated with Lord Shiva, oxen are highly valued for their contribution to agriculture, a vital aspect of Nepali life. They are seen as symbols of strength and endurance, and their role in plowing fields holds deep cultural significance. Journeying into the serene landscapes of Bhutan, we encounter another display of nature’s sanctity. The takin, a unique and rare animal with a goat-like head and a cow-like body, is revered as the national animal of Bhutan. Local legends link its creation to a divine mishmash of animals by the great Buddhist saint Drubthob Thangtong Gyalpo, emphasizing the spiritual connection between humans and animals.
These instances showcase a stark contrast to the commodification of existence that’s prevalent in the modern world. While many societies have drifted away from their roots, these cultures stand as reminders of the harmony that can exist between humans and the natural world.
Through their devotion to animals and the ecosystems they inhabit, they reinforce the idea that existence doesn’t need to be measured solely in monetary terms but can be enriched through spiritual connection and a profound respect for all living beings.
Robert Plutchik, an American psychologist, explored to some extent the similarities between human and animal primary emotions. Emotion is a multifaceted phenomenon encompassing both physical and psychological aspects. Animals engage in survival, communication, empathy, and relationships, reflecting humanity’s emotional and social attributes. Within this realm, animals manifest personal and social skills akin to humans, offering insightful examples.
In spite of humanity’s cognitive abilities, animals share ecosystems and rights. Their impression on well-being, interactions, and empathy echoes globally. The main aim of this piece is to interest animals’ features that could clarify humanity. Dogs illustrate self-awareness, trustworthiness, and empathy. Cats demonstration personal skills like individuality, curiosity, and friendliness. Cows symbolize cooperation and kindness, valued in Hindu rituals. Dolphins exhibit lively communication and linguistic parallels. Ants’ collective behavior showcases teamwork. These examples underscore that animals convey valuable lessons: respecting ecosystems and fostering harmony.
We are animals, the human race has in its own mind elevated us to a position above the animals, but biologically and in the simplest terms we are apart of the biodiversity of this planet.
If we were going to act like animals which one should we be like ?,the Inquisitive nature of a cat, the eyes of an eagle with the ability to see things at a speed we can’t even imagine, or should we just except that we are not as clever as we’d like to think we are, and start looking to the animal world for more of the solutions to solve our global problems, stop trying to create more toys tools and products that are only going to contribute to the amount of pollution on our planet.
Once we have worked out how to bring back the diversity then we just need to make these behaviours and changes profitable at the grassroots to the landowners, workers, governments and businesses, and they can grow the greener future we need.
Not only the POWER OF TOUCH but even the WASTELESS WORLD TALK, this time with KEVIN MACKENZIE was dedicated to the same topic, recorded to be shared with all, the same as all previous 42 talks, that from the same day (August 16, 2023) can be accessed in form of a PODCAST as well.
I hope we have waked up curiosity in you as well and this is right
Have a nice time free of waste and wasting in all its forms, stay safe and free, and find the animal in you
Michael Rada, HUMAN
co-authored by Pat, Pramila, Kunaall, and Michael
