Animals
and sa’dhana
Dec.
3, 1995
Q: It has been said that it is harmful for sa’dhana to be done in the presence of animals. Is this true?
Animals who keep the company of human beings who do sa’dhana will get
themselves highly evolved through exposure to the presence of the human being.
You know the stories of forest yogis who would tame tigers? The tiger would
come and sit at the feet of the yogi. This is a fact and often it occurred. The
great and fierce tiger would come and sit purring at the feet of the yogi, just
wanting his presence always, because the tiger enjoyed so much the vibration of
the sa’dhana of the yogi.
In the presence of the yogi the tiger would
become very peaceful, very happy. He
would enjoy being near the yogi. The
wild animal would became tame in the presence of the yogi because he was
affected by the sa’dhana. The tiger is very attracted to the subtle vibration
and in that subtle vibration he feels completely at peace. So the yogi would
have the tiger sleeping sweetly at his feet. And when doing sa’dhana the tiger
will be doing sa’dhana with him. Now this has often happened. Among the forest
yogis it is well known that animals will come and sit with you when you do
sa’dhana and that their temperament will change over time because of the
exposure to sa’dhana. So this has been going on for thousands of years.
Those animals who have done sa’dhana with enlightened yogis may
themselves become enlightened. It is a fact that they will gain high
development and in next life they may take human form for only a short time to
complete their development. So great benefit can be had by animals in the
presence of subtle energy produced in sa’dhana. The microvita, which comes in
the sa’dhana, affects the animals, affects their minds. If exposed on a regular basis the mind of
the animal will be altered. The psyche of the animal will develop just as
animals who live with human beings develop human traits and their minds become
more mature than animals who live in the wild. Such animals will, next life,
very frequently take human form because they have developed a likeness to the
human beings.
Now the question comes is it harmful to do sa’dhana with animals? I
would say this is service to the animal world. You know there are different
forms of service that must be done and service to plants and animals is
essential. One form that can be done to both plants and animals is to do
sa’dhana with them, for they will get great spiritual assistance and great
psychic assistance. The mind of an animal regularly exposed to sa’dhana will
become altered. In the next life that animal will not only take human form but
they will desire to do sa’dhana. They will be already developed spiritually.
You know that development is taking place.
In the animal body the mind is growing and developing a strong affinity
and attraction for the Supreme. In order to fulfill that desire to be near the supreme,
they will take human form next life. In that human form they will be very drawn
to that same sweet vibration of sa’dhana which they enjoyed so much in that
animal body. So like this, the evolution of these beings can be greatly
advanced if they are assisted with sa’dhana.
Now I have recommended that there be training programs for animals and
for plants, even, it can be done. But how to train the animals, how to develop?
You do sa’dhana with them and even there can be particular types of sa’dhana
which are done with animals and with plants for their evolution. There can be
even centers to help develop the animals so that their evolution will be
enhanced. So if you have a family pet and you care for this creature, then you
do sa’dhana with it and it will grow and develop. But you need not feel that
you must keep the creature on your lap, even to be in the room will be
sufficient. So it is a kind of service to the plants and animals that can be
done. If you have plants that are not feeling well you bring them in the room
with you while doing sa’dhana and they will feel better. In the animals, you
will observe a mental change that will occur if, over time, they are exposed to
sa’dhana.
Regarding the diminishment of your own sa’dhana by giving to the plants
and animals in this way, I would say, that to love another and to give what you
have never diminishes you. For it is the very nature of Parama Purus'a to give
to His children. So you adopt His approach.