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Yoga and Animal Rights
by Dada Madhuvidyananda Yoga Yoga is a spiritual way of life and philosophy. The goal of Yoga is to realize one’s blissful self and to unfold one’s unlimited human potential. The practice of Yoga requires mental balance, which one develops through conscientious and compassionate conduct. The yogic ideals of an ethical and human conduct are described in the practices of Yama and Niyama. They form the foundation of Yoga. What follows is an explanation of these practices as they relate to animals.
Ahimsa: To cause no harm through thoughts, words or deeds The fundamental idea of Ahimsa is that we do not cause unnecessary pain or hurt to any creature. This idea is also expressed in the maxim: “Don’t do onto others what you don’t want done unto you.” In relation to animals, Ahimsa means that we don’t cause avoidable harm or suffering to them by, for example, keeping them in unnatural or cruel conditions or killing them, except where human life is in danger. "Ethics is the unlimited responsibility for everything that lives."
Satya: To use one’s words and mind with Satya means to think about the welfare of others and speak and act accordingly. It means to support and assist others in their growth and development. Satya implies benevolent truthfulness. People who live by Satya becomes courageous and incorruptible. Their small or great deeds radiate the light and love of humanity.
Asteya: Not to take things which belong to others Asteya means to not steal. It includes abandoning the very desire to take others’ possessions. Asteya is a foundation for a pure mind and a noble, strong character. Non-stealing also relates to our treatment of animals. In the modern dairy farms the calf is separated from its mother shortly after birth, so that the milk, which nature intended for the calf, can be given to humans. The calf is thereby robbed of its milk. The whole process is not only theft but also animal cruelty. Milking itself is not necessarily a theft. If human beings would let domesticated cows live according to their nature, care for and respect them and let them nurse their calves freely, milking would be a part of co-existence and co-operation between species.
Brahmacarya: To remain connected with the Divine. Brahmacarya means to view all beings and things that we come into contact with as different expressions of the Divine, rather than to see them as mere crude objects. It also means to endeavour to feel and know the non-material, spiritual essence in everything that exists. "A human being is part of the whole of what we call the Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts, his feelings as something separated from the rest – a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for the few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.“ Aparigraha: Renouncing luxuries Aparigraha means to go without such things that are not necessary for our development or fulfilment of responsibilities. Aparigraha has a personal and social aspect. In individual life, Aparigraha helps to attain contentment and balance. More luxury does not lead to more happiness. On the contrary, it leads mostly to more stress and more greed. The effort to reduce one’s indulgence and comfort out of compassion for the poor leads one to an inner wealth of contentment and peace – a treasure that cannot be bought with money. Aparigraha leads to advancement and well-being also in the social arena. If richer countries were to reduce their luxury goods and consumption and distributed the thereby freed resources to poorer nations, poverty and hunger could be reduced and eliminated. In today’s world, in which around 850 million are malnourished and yearly 40 million starve to death, meat consumption is a luxury. The meat industry requires enormous amounts of grain, land, and water. If the same resources were utilized for plant-based food production, enough food could be produced for every person on Earth. No one would have to die of starvation.
Shaoca: Cleanliness and Purity The practice of Shaoca means keeping one’s body, mind, clothes, and environment clean. It is absolutely necessary to keep one’s body clean, but it is even more important to preserve the cleanliness of the mind. Cleansing the mind is a far more laborious job than cleansing the body, clothes or house. When people, driven by desire, run blindly after objects of pleasure, without taking any help of their conscience – or when they are habitually goaded by selfish motives, their minds get distorted. These distortions are the impurities of the mind, which can be removed through selflessness. Kindliness towards all creatures, selfless giving, charity and dutifulness bring mental purity and harmony. Following a vegetarian, animal-friendly diet is a concrete practice of Shaoca. Also, the effort to help and protect animals leads to a mental refinement.
Santosha: Contentment Contentment is the opposite of greed. Santosha means complete contentment. Being established in Santosha one leads a happy and fulfilling life. Without Santosha even a multi-millionaire will remain a beggar at heart. Santosha encompasses the understanding that the source of lasting happiness lies within us and not in the external objects. Profit motivation is the main reason why millions of animals are kept in cruel conditions and are being killed. The greed for profit makes the mind crude and destructive. Santosha is an antidote to greed in all its forms. The practice of Santosha also lies in being contended with the earnings of a humane and nature-friendly work. Santosha doesn’t suggest that one should passively accept wrong-doings or injustice. Rather it implies that one should fight for what is right with inner composure and love instead of being swayed by hatred or revengefulness.
Tapah: To make efforts and undergo hardships in order to reach one’s goal The goal of Tapah is to free others from sorrows and suffering and to support their development. Tapah is altogether selfless and is practiced without the expectation of a reward. It is pure service, not business. Tapah leads to mental expansion, which is very helpful for mental and spiritual development. For the practice of Tapah it is important to ascertain that one’s service will indeed benefit those in need. Our natural human responsibility is greatest toward those who are weaker and poorer than us. Working hard in order to raise funds for the rich, or to further an unjust cause wouldn’t be Tapah. Undergoing hardship in order to relieve the hungry, weak and poor of their suffering would be Tapah. Billions of animals are being tormented and killed for the meat, pharmaceutical and clothing industries each year. Their helplessness and suffering is unsurpassed. Undergoing hardship and employing one’s time, energy and labor to reduce their suffering is Tapah.
Svadhyaya: The study of spiritual and philosophical texts and other books of learning Svadhyaya means not only to read or listen about a subject, but also to understand its significance, the underlying idea. Through this we gain knowledge and wisdom. Svadhyaya gives us guidelines for the development of our intellect, our conscience and our conduct. Svadhyaya also helps in identifying irrational and narrow-minded scriptures and interpretations. Such writings have caused much harm throughout the ages. Yoga philosophy has taught non-harming, universal love and compassion for all creatures for thousands of years. Inspired by this philosophy the people of India largely turned away from eating meat and embraced a vegetarian diet. This change stands unique in the history of humankind. Iishvara Pranidhana: To turn towards and take the Divine as one’s ideal Iishvara Pranidhana means to direct one’s mind towards the supreme Self, and to seek fulfilment in the immortal essence rather than the transient appearance. In practical terms it means to meditate on the infinite consciousness. The practice of this meditation, after learning it from a competent teacher leads to perfect inner happiness and peace. The cause of the cruel exploitation of animals is the narrow-mindedness and selfishness of human beings. In order to remove this cause, humans must learn to expand their minds, to remain in touch with their conscience and humaneness and to develop universal benevolence. The process of meditation effects such mental expansion and integrity. That is why the practice of meditation can contribute substantially to the advancement of animal rights and welfare.
Animal Rights “Just as a human being wants to survive, a pigeon also wants to survive -similarly a cow also wants to survive, or a tree. Just as my life is dear to me, so the lives of created beings are also equally dear to them. It is the birthright of human beings to live in this world, and it is the birthright of the animal world and plant world also to remain on this earth. To recognize this right, and to get it recognized by the entire human society, the Renaissance movement will have to do something concrete.” P. R. Sarkar Animal rights are the rights of animals to life, protection and natural development. In 2002 Germany became the first and until now only country that included the protection of animals in its constitution. This was certainly an exemplary act. But unfortunately so far it has made hardly any difference to the hundreds of millions of animals whose right to live is not respected and who are being kept in unnatural and cruel conditions. In the United States animals raised for food have little to no legal protection. Yoga and Animal Rights As we have seen, caring for and protecting animals is an integral part of Yoga. A Yogi is a friend and defender of animals. Yoga can play a vital role in the enormous undertaking of getting animal rights recognised and implemented. On the one hand, Yoga philosophy teaches core principles on which animal rights are based: non-harming, universal benevolence and the interconnectedness, sacredness and underlying unity of all life. On the other hand, Yoga practice help to develop qualities that are essential for accomplishing such a mighty task: integrity, universal love, firm determination, mental balance, self-control, courage, inner peace and selflessness.
A link to a friendly site: http://yogaforharmony.googlepages.com/yogaandanimalwelfare
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