The Sacred Duty of Every Man : 6.

Before concluding, we shall draw inspiration from some of the sublime, soul-elevating demonstrations of this great quality of love for animals which bygone great ones have given to us.

After all, when everything is said and done, we can get the greatest guidance for our conduct in life from the practical examples of saints and sages. It is the most unfailing guide, and the most inspiring and vital spark which enthuses us to live the life of virtue, of divinity. We have before us the sublime example of the Prince-Incarnate of Compassion, Gautama Buddha.

You know how Buddha gave us the ideal life of conduct towards animals, when he demonstrated his perfect sense of oneness with them by offering himself at the sacrificial post for the sake of the poor goat to be sacrificed in the Yajna of Bimbisara. Then, you have heard about the noble gesture of King Sibi; in order to save the life of a dove, he offered his own body to the vulture which had come in pursuit of the dove. We have yet another sublime example of the great King Dil.


While he is out hunting, he encounters a lion which is about to pounce upon a cow. At once he says: "This should not be victimised by you". The lion says: "I am hungry". He replies: "I am here; I offer myself to you to appease your hunger". This is a lofty example of the feeling we should have towards animals. We have also the practical examples of the saintly beings of Mohammed and Christ. We learn that Mohammed was one of the most compassionate of men; especially he had the softest and tenderest heart for all animals. And, St. Francis was a great lover of animals. To him all animals were like brothers, and their welfare was the thing dear to his heart.

Sri Swami Chidananda

To be continued  ...