We invite you to journey with me into the heart of yoga – at Yogam Yoga it is not just as a practice of postures and breath, but as a way of being. A path of union, of awareness, and above all, of compassion. And on this path, our relationship with animals is not peripheral – it is central.
The Yogic Foundation: Ahimsa and Unity
Patanjali, in the Yoga Sutras, offers us the ethical cornerstone of yoga: Ahimsa, non-violence. Sutra II.35 states:
“In the presence of one firmly established in non-violence, all hostility ceases.”
This is not passive avoidance of harm – it is active peace. When we embody ahimsa, we become a sanctuary for all beings. Animals, too, feel this vibration. They respond not to our words, but to our presence.
The Upanishads, ancient texts of profound wisdom, echo this unity. The Isha Upanishad declares:
“He who sees all beings in the Self and the Self in all beings, he never suffers.”
To see the Self in all beings is to recognize that the cow, the bird, the dog, the elephant—all are expressions of the same divine consciousness. To harm them is to harm ourselves.
Jainism: Radical Compassion
Jainism takes ahimsa to its most radical and beautiful expression. Lord Mahavira taught:
“Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult, torment, torture, or kill any creature or living being.”
This is not sentimentality – it is spiritual discipline. Jain monks sweep the ground before walking, wear masks to avoid inhaling insects, and care for injured animals in sanctuaries called panjrapoles. Their reverence is not symbolic—it is lived.
Buddhism: Boundless Loving-Kindness
The Buddha taught metta – loving-kindness without boundaries. In the Metta Sutta, he says:
“Just as a mother would protect her only child with her life, even so let one cultivate a boundless love toward all beings.”
He also reminds us:
“Harm no other beings. They are just your brothers and sisters.”
In Buddhist monasteries, even snakes and scorpions are treated with care. The practice of non-harm extends to all creatures – on the ground, in the air, in the water.
Christianity: Stewardship and Mercy
Jesus may not have spoken directly about animal rights, but his teachings are clear. In Matthew 10:29, he says:
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.”
And in Proverbs 12:10:
“The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.”
Christianity calls us to stewardship—not dominion. To care for creation as a reflection of divine love.
Islam: Mercy and Accountability
The Qur’an teaches that animals are communities like us:
“There is not an animal on the earth, nor a bird that flies with its wings, but they are communities like you.” (Surah Al-An’am 6:38)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever is kind to the creatures of God is kind to himself.”
He warned against cruelty and praised those who gave water to thirsty animals. In Islam, mercy is not optional—it is a divine attribute we are called to embody.
Ramana Maharshi: Grace Beyond Species
Let us now turn to the sage of Arunachala – Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi – whose life was a living embodiment of compassion and spiritual clarity. Ramana did not merely tolerate animals; he revered them. He saw in them the same divine essence that he saw in humans.
One of the most touching examples is his relationship with Cow Lakshmi, a beloved resident of his ashram. She was not just a companion – she was a devotee. Ramana once said:
“It is not true that birth as a man is necessarily the highest, and that one must attain realisation only from being a man. Even an animal can attain Self-realisation.”
Lakshmi would come to him daily, place her head at his feet, and even led him to ceremonies like the inauguration of her cowshed. On the day she died, Ramana sat beside her, gently pressing her heart and whispering words of comfort. Witnesses described her final moments as serene, as if she had entered samadhi, the state of spiritual absorption.
Ramana’s love extended to monkeys, dogs, squirrels, and even snakes. He never referred to animals as “it” – only as “he” or “she.”
This is not romanticism – it is spiritual realism. Ramana saw the Self in all beings. He recognized that animals, too, are on the journey of liberation. His actions remind us that compassion is not hierarchical – it is universal.
Why It Matters Today
In a world of factory farms, deforestation, and extinction, our spiritual path must not be blind to suffering. Yoga is not escape—it is engagement. To care for animals is to practice yoga off the mat. It is to live in alignment with our deepest values.
Whether we feed a stray dog, choose a plant-based meal, or speak out against cruelty, we are practicing yoga. We are embodying ahimsa, metta, karuna, daya—compassion in its many sacred forms.
Closing Invocation
Let us remember the words of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad:
“In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self.”
This is the yogic path that we follow in Yogam Yoga. Not just union with the divine – but union with all life.
May we walk it with open hearts, gentle hands, and fierce compassion.
Om Shanti.