On Behalf Of Animal Angels… Do animals enhance the quality of lives of human beings…? Do not animals make their entry into human lives donning the role of angels…Animals turn angels when human hearts turn towards them with unsullied, unconditional love…Ms Mercini Sheratt shares her views about Animal Angels, quoting Bhagawan… “Why should you argue that animals, beasts and birds are bad?  Each is treading its own dharma.  It does not overstep or undermine.  They have greater cooperation and mutual love than even men.  Each has to be judged from the point of view of the equipment and the opportunity.  Man can live better if he learns from animals.  He is degrading himself even lower.  When the Lord incarnates, He has as one of His tasks the protection of sadhus, or beings with quiet innocent nature.  Among animals are countless sadhus, remember”.  (from Questions and Answers:  Sai Baba and John Hislop – in Peggy Mason’s magazine, Summer 1996) Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba tells us “You have earned this human body by the accumulated merit of many lives as inferior beings (animals, birds, beasts, reptiles etc., ……….)”   Have you ever wondered what these deeds of merit could be?  First of all, you could spare a thought for the thousands of working horses, donkeys and mules working in poor countries around the world, most often worked to death, in pain, neglected, starved, beaten but without whom their owners could not live as they are a vital part in helping them to earn a livelihood.  Then there are the dogs who lovingly and conscientiously look after the disabled, the deaf and the blind as well as cats who do their own kind of  quiet healing work in different venues and dolphins who have saved humans from drowning and cured them of depression with their unconditional love, to name just a few examples! There are literally hundreds of amazing true stories coming to light now which demonstrate such deeds of merit, including loving and often life-saving services carried out by our apparently younger brothers and sisters in animal form.  They show us what animals do to serve not only us but also members of their own and other species.  In so doing, they demonstrate a much higher degree of consciousness, love and feeling than they have been credited with over the ages.  Even now, many human beings sadly have no understanding or recognition of this.  However, as our own awareness of the world we live in is growing, so too is our acknowledgement of the fact that animals are most sentient beings and not objects without feeling which can be cruelly exploited for our own ends as has been the case for centuries but continues now more than ever.  For this reason as much as any other they deserve our loving kindness and protection on their evolutionary journey upwards. Baba has said that when we love and look after an animal, we help to raise the whole of creation and if we can’t care for an animal, then we should try and feed the birds.  Our loving interaction with them quickens their  evolutionary progress, just as the Avatar does ours.  Even wild animals respond to love. “When a devotee seeks with humility and purity to give seva and prema to my creatures who are in need of such selfless service and sublime love;  when he considers all creatures as my children, as his beloved brothers and sisters, as the blessed manifestations of my immanence, then in fulfilment of my role as Sathya Sai, I descend to help, accompany and carry that yogi.  I am always near such a yogi to guide him and to shower my love upon his life.” (Sathya Sai Baba). The following true stories demonstrate a little of what souls in animal form are capable of.  One is about one of man’s least favourite creatures:  rats!   Even though rats are generally not popular they do have their share of fans.  This is because when removed from the arena of sewers etc and living in a clean environment where they receive love,  they can be very personable, sociable and affectionate creatures.  Highly intelligent, they have even been found to ‘chuckle’ and come back for more when tickled by scientists studying animal behaviour.  They are even actually capable of altruism as the following story demonstrates: “In order to test maternal instinct, a laboratory experiment required mother rats to cross a live electric grid in order to pick up their babies.  In spite of the fear and pain of electrocution, the devoted little mothers crossed the electric grid even though they received many shocks and some rescued babies not their own.  One little mother carried fifty-eight babies across the grid receiving electric shocks all the way before researchers ran out of infants with which to test her”..(abbreviated from ‘Peaceful Kingdom – Random Acts of Kindness by Animals’ by Stephanie Laland.) The next one is taken from the Daily Mail (June 20 2002).  It relates to how a seal saved an unknown dog from drowning in the River Tees.  A certain Mr Hinds and his sons were walking by the river when they spotted an Alsation/Labrador cross on the side of the river.  It was bleeding from its head and leg and whimpering.  When Mr Hinds approached it to help it, it panicked and jumped into the river.  The currents were so strong that it struggled to keep afloat and was in danger of drowning when, out of  nowhere,  lifesaving help came in the form of a seal!  The seal charged  up to it, circled it and then, with its nose, pushed it firmly towards the shore and safely back on the river bank. Then it swam back into the middle of the river and waited for Mr Hinds to reach the dog before swimming away, an unsung lifeguard! Another story is told in the same article of a woman, Charlene Camburn, who got into difficulty while out swimming off the coast of Lincolnshire in 1999. Seven seals appeared and surrounded her

Baba and the Animal World… “We, to whom the animal world is different and dumb, have to learn, just this one lesson, by observing Baba’s affection for them: never to harm any living thing, for our sustenance or pleasure; never to lose an opportunity for lessening the suffering or pain of an animal brother of ours” writes Prof Kasturi in the November 1958 issue of Sanathana Sarathi, narrating the illustrious bond of Love between the Creator and His four-legged creations. The picture of Baba holding two huge Alsa­tians, which appears in this Special Birthday Number will be of great interest to those who have read the commentary of Vishnu Suri on the fourth Anuvaka of Sri Rudradhyaya, especially the 17th Mantra “Namah svabhyah svapathibhyascha vo namah.” Vishnu Suri explains that svabhyah refers to dogs, i.e., forms of Avidya, the four legs and tail of the dog being the symbols of the activities of the five senses, the illusion of I and Mine being symbolised by the two ears, and the entire animal, representing the tendency to engage Oneself in actions, with a perpetual desire to enjoy the fruits thereof. And, svapathibhyah, according to him, refers to the masters of dogs, the mighty personages, the avatar purushas who hold the Avidya in check and help to lessen and destroy its evil and who facilitate the manifestation of Vidya. In fact, for those who have eyes to see and the wisdom to understand, there is always a deeper meaning in whatever Baba does! For the generality of Bhaktas, however, Baba’s animal pets and the Prema that He bestows on them is just an object-lesson, in the kinship of all creation and the spirit of loving service of all living things. A long chapter can be written on the Prema that Baba bestows on the cows in His Goshala, how He daily visits the cows and tenderly feeds them with His own Hand, and how they too react, most devotedly to His affection and solicitude. Baba has had as pets under His care deer, peacocks, stags, rabbits etc., but in this article, it is proposed to give an account only of the dogs, who had the good fortune to be fondled by His loving Hands. Jack and Jill were the earliest recipients of Baba’s grace. They were two lovely little Pomeranians from Ootacamund and perhaps, they were in some past birth, attached to some Divine Personage; for, it was noted that they actually fasted on every Thursday and desisted from eating flesh on all days! The Thursday fast of these canine devotees put many a human Bhakta to shame. They were inseparable companions of Baba and used to sleep, Jack at the head of the bed and Jill at His Feet. Who can say what dreams they had inside their half-shut eyes, while Baba stroked their silken fur with His motherly affection? After some years of Samipya, Jack breathed his last in the lap of Baba. The previous night Jack had gone across the river to Karnatanagapalli, following the foot-steps of a chauffeur and lay under the car, all unknown to the occupants. Jack had a way of volunteering to keep watch over the cars, which in those days, had to be kept on the other bank. Next morning, when the driver started the car, Jack was run over, but he could drag himself along the sand to Puttaparthi and the Mandir, where Baba was engaged in writing letters. Jack knew that his end was near and so, he heroically gathered strength and pulled himself forward until he fell on Baba’s lap and with eyes glistening in joy and fixed on Baba’s face, he bade farewell to this final interlude in his career. Jill followed him, soon after. Baba had them buried with some ceremony and got a Brindavan erected over their mortal remains. This can now be seen behind the Old Mandir, in the Quadrangle. Chitty and Bitty succeeded them; they too were Pomeranians, from Kodaikanal and, within a few years, they finished their round of birth and death and a Samadhi at Ootacamund marks the spot where they are laid to eternal rest. Baba has lead other Pomeranians with Him, like Lilly and Billy. He blessed with His care and love, a pair of Cocker Spaniels, Minnie and Mickie and another pair, Honey and Goldie. The very names He gave to these animal devotees reveal the sweetness of His Grace and, the Prema that He bestowed on them. Latterly, Baba has had a few Alsatians in the Mandir like Rover and Rita and, the two proud dogs which have the good fortune to be illustrated in this month’s “Sanathana Sarathi” with their Master, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. They are named Tommy and Henry. Maurice Maeterlinck the poet, has said that dogs teach us, by their single-minded devotion and unquestioning obedi­ence, how we have to behave towards the Lord. If their behaviour to us, ordinary folk, is itself so elevated and exemplary, how much more sincere and unselfish they must be, when Bhagawan Himself condescends to handle and fondle them! These animal Bhaktas of the Lord are as important for Him, as the human; He can speak to them in the language they can understand; He helps in their promotion, to the hither stages of spiritual evolution; He knows, which among them deserve His attention and His care. We, to whom the animal world is different and dumb, have to learn, just this one lesson, by observing Baba’s affection for them: never to harm any living thing, for our sustenance or pleasure; never to lose an opportunity for lessening the suffering or pain of an animal brother of ours. II Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II Po

How Shirdi Sai Taught To See GOD In DOG…!!! Some years ago, at the end of a Guru Purnima Divine discourse Bhagawan urged the devotees to show compassion for as He spelt out, See Me in a dog also…D O G – dog will lead you to G O D – God. What a beautiful statement hidden with Supreme Truth of coexistence! True, one needs to raise to a level of higher consciousness to understand and imbibe this Supreme Truth. With Bhagawan Himelf showing all-out compassion for all of His creation, are we not, His ‘devotees’ bound to practise His precepts? Let’s learn a lesson from the Life Of Bhagawan at Shirdi…How He Showed To See GOD in DOG…a thought-provoking incident from Sri Shirdi Sai Satcharita… Once, Mrs Tarkhad was staying in a certain house in Shirdi. At noon, meals were ready and dishes were being served, when a hungry dog turned up there and began to cry. Mrs. Tarkhad got up at once and threw a piece of bread, which the dog gulped with great relish. In the afternoon, when she went to the Masjid and sat at some distance, Sai Baba said to her, “Mother, you have fed Me sumptuously up to My throat, My afflicted pranas (life-forces) have been satisfied. Always act like this, and this will stand you in good stead. Sitting in this Masjid I shall never, never speak untruth. Take pity on Me like this. First give bread to the hungry, and then eat yourself. Note this well.” She could not at first understand the meaning of what Baba said. So she replied, “Baba, how could I feed You? I am myself dependent on others and take my food from them on payment.” Then Baba replied — “Eating that lovely bread I Am heartily contended and I Am still belching. The dog which you saw before meals and to which you gave the piece of bread is one with Me, so also other creatures (cats, pigs, flies, cows etc.) are one with Me. I Am roaming in their forms. He, who sees Me in all these creatures is My beloved. So abandon the sense of duality and distinction and serve Me, as you did today.” Drinking these nectar-like words, she was moved, her eyes were filled with tears, her throat was choked and her joy knew no bounds.

When Human Hearts Become Like Cacti…The Womb Of Mother Nature Goes Dry… When summer simmers with exhausting passion, the earth body withers owing to acute drought, putting humans and his co-existing world to great agony…Suffering it through, as we call it acute drought, has man ever thought what exactly causes Mother Nature to act in retribution? Is he not responsible for his acute agony…? When summer simmers with intense passion, let’s listen to what Sri Jullie Chaudhuri writes about… The chemist who can extract from his heart’s elements – compassion, respect, longing, patience, regret, surprise, and forgiveness and compound them into one, can create that atom which is called love. – Khalil Gibran Temperatures are soaring,Fertile fields turning barren,Smoke is replacing oxygen…Rivers are going dry,To appear on the horizon,Rain clouds are fighting shy,Where the distant Sun seems scorchingly close-by……When human beings take unjust, unethical, unrighteousness,And wicked ways as an ally,Not only does Mother Nature reply,But the graph of crime too shows an all time high…When hearts lack compassion…rivers go barren…When human hearts become like cacti…the environment goes dry… Drought…no doubt…gradually overcomes the land, when there is a consistent massive drought, rather an enormous dearth…of sympathy, empathy, thoughtfulness, care, concern, consideration and compassion in human hearts. Rivers face a depleting water level…when the fiery flames of selfish ways evaporate the fragrance of selfless love in a human heart.As you sow…so you reap…seeds of  arrogance reap egocentric thoughts; self-centered thoughts reap vainglorious…immodest words; immodest words reap disgracious acts that benefit no one in particular…and a collective combination of such thoughtless actions ultimately affect the terrain…the environment…ultimately earth as a whole. Seeds sown with egotistical intent…will magnetically attract catastrophic results. We are the cause and so also the effect. When a large percentage of the population lives portraying just such a prolonged famine of wholesome sentiments…an acute paucity of that natural substance called love, being overcome with the desire for meeting personal needs solely, succumbing to selfishness and self aggrandizement…not being able to see beyond gain meant for themselves and their immediate family…the environment, per force and most certainly is affected in a reciprocal negative manner. All this is due to repeated insensitive, unfeeling and callously corrosive acts which are completely out of sync with the word human…humane ways and humanity.Each one of us is responsible for the appallingly deplorable, distressingly alarming state of affairs – be it the Physical Environment, the Biotic Environment or the Social/Cultural Environment. We tend to blame everyone and everything else for our misfortune – stars, planets, neighbours, friends, relatives, cats and crows…pointing a finger at all and sundry…except facing our own follies fair and square. Let us view what may appear as an insignificant example…Trimming of plants and trees in the neighbourhood…some of which may be fragrantly covered with flowers. Indeed to cut down these blooms is a ghastly atrocity on Mother Nature. Trimming is one thing but what is taking place in some gardens is clearly termed as ‘hacking’ down of plants. These plants enhance our environment, are a home to birds, give shade to so many, cool down the areas they bloom in, do their own little minute bit to attract rain bearing clouds…thus completely exemplifying a selfless way of living.As regards the cutting down of full grown ancient trees with their thick and wondrous foliage…that, any sage mind will agree, certainly amounts to a loathsome sin. Next, let us see what is happening with animals. Unaccountable continuous atrocities are taking place on innocent domestic animals, as well as the majestic creatures of the wild. From dogs…to baby seals, to fox to bears to tigers and rhinos…insane culling, brutal poaching, savage hunting…such gross acts just to use animal products to enhance beauty and vigour are horrifyingly and swiftly bringing certain species to the brink of early extinction. Children, women, old people…too have not been spared monstrous, mercilessly outrageous misconduct and immoralities.Has humanity failed…and the human mind…does it need complete overhauling and restructuring…?The soul of Mother Nature which includes plants, animals and the five elements…tires of repeated wanton misuse of its bounties…including consistent disrespect of space, air, fire, water, earth…and thus is enormously wounded. What will our children inherit…the curse of Mother Nature…which arises not from her lips but from the actions and inactions committed time and again due inhuman insensitivities…a regretful result of our own personal follies…? Will trees and animals, in times to come, be identified only through picture depictions…heartbreaking memories of things that were flourishing once…?Ultimately when human hearts become like cacti…the womb of Mother Nature…goes dry… Care for Life, Concern for Nature and Reverence for all of creation is the need of the hour.So also is awareness.In so many countries, especially the Gulf nations, including Israel, it is a sacrilege to harm even a leaf of a tree, for they owe the change in their topography, the enhanced beauty of their land profile…to these plants and trees…from being known as desert land to receiving a fair share of rainfall and plush beauteous greenery.Awareness of aesthetic sense needs to be urgently augmented. It would be admirable, as well as reflect solidarity of purpose, if actions and decisions are taken respecting sentiments…with sensitivity and respect…maintaining overall awareness of the environment and all that does exist in it…in a judicious, righteous and compassionate manner while not entertaining vain individualism…enhanced by greed…based on the strength of personal  power and authority. This is the question of our environment…setting an example to our children to respect all those who live in it…and form a part of it…be it from the plant world, animal world or human world. Let us live and let live…learn from our mistakes and grow in awareness…in expansive love and consciousness…owing befitting allegiance to our Beloved Bhagawan…His life…His words…His teachings…His selfless affection…to finally love all, serve all; help ever, hurt never…Bhagawan with His transcendental cosmic examples forever redefined the ‘all’ in Love All, Serve All…to include every bit in creation…sentient as well as insentient beings. Pray for the welfare of all. The power of prayer is

Why Do Animals Matter? Imagine a world without greenery around, without the four legged ones, without the flying colours? Such a world would be hollow without the essence. Man is blessed to co-exist in this beautiful world, with plants, animals, birds and all other living ‘loving’ creatures. If alone man understands his duty, his legacy, to live practising “Love All Serve All, Help Ever Hurt Never”, coexisting with his co-creation, he can surely claim that his heart has been touched by God. Why man should co-exist in nature and why do animals, birds matter for him? Read on as Ms. Mercinini Sheratt from the United Kingdom writes about the beauty of animal kingdom, citing Bhagawan’s priceless quotes. The writer, an English Teacher by profession, has been a long time devotee and is currently spiritual co-ordinator for Region 6 in the UK. She has also been taking active interest in animal welfare and animal rights. Why do animals matter? Although Bhagawan often begs us not to lapse back into our animal ancestry because spiritually our task is – with His help – to rise higher and higher up the evolutionary ladder, He nevertheless tells us that: “Why should you argue that animals, beasts and birds are bad?  Each is treading its own dharma. It does not overstep or undermine.  They have greater cooperation and mutual love than even men.  Each has to be judged from the point of view of the equipment and the opportunity.  Man can live better if he learns from the animals.  He is degrading himself even lower.  When the Lord incarnates, He has as one of His tasks the protection of sadhus, of beings with quiet, innocent natures.  Among animals are countless sadhus, remember.” (Sathya Sai Baba in a question and answer session – Peggy Mason’s Magazine, Summer 1996) Animals matter because among them are some remarkable and beautiful souls, perhaps old souls of the animal kingdom.  For just like the human kingdom, there are young souls and old souls and this can often be seen just by looking into their eyes.  Think, for example, about all the patient, loving and selfless dogs, also referred to as Assist/ Service dogs,  who look after handicapped human beings.  (However, dogs are not the only sadhus in the animal kingdom) Many other such sadhus can also be found in other species of animals. Below we can see a picture of the Mother Theresa of Dogs, a rescued dog living in an animal sanctuary in Warwickshire, UK.  This story has been verified to be true and is as follows:  Mother Theresa of Dogs was a badly abused and neglected greyhound left to die, locked up somewhere.  She was finally rescued and taken to an animal sanctuary, emaciated and shivering with fear.  However, as time went by, she grew in confidence with the love and care she received and has ended up by becoming the sanctuary’s resident surrogate mother.  She welcomes all the new incomers to the sanctuary, providing them with the love and care their bruised souls so badly need.  The picture below shows the different species living peacefully together under Mother Theresa’s tender, loving wing.  Her motto must be “Love All, Serve All”. Animals matter because they are sentient beings just like us.  Although they can’t speak in our human language, this does not mean that they are automatons with no feeling as certain ‘scientific’ and ‘philosophic’ thinking has claimed for centuries…..an attitude which has hardened the hearts of many and justified all kinds of cruelty and exploitation of animals, ‘legitimate’ and illegitimate.  This attitude is now thankfully slowly changing and certain scientists of animal behaviour are finally accepting that  animals are feeling – and dare I say it – thinking beings with complex emotional lives.  They feel joy, love, pain, fear, anxiety, sorrow and demonstrate humour, the range of animal sentience that is now being recognised is astounding – even a bull has been known to grieve at the death of his owner;   rats, who chuckle when being tickled and come back for more, have been found to be capable of altruism; the humble chicken is capable of deception and empathy and turkeys are so clever that they have been known to hold up heavy traffic in order to let their babies cross the road.  There is no such thing as a bird brain in the bird kingdom, as birds of all kinds have been found to be surprisingly intelligent. Even pigeons have shown mathematical abilities on par with certain primates.   As for parrots, they are a whole amazing story in itself; they have the emotional age of a toddler and the intelligence of a five year old.  They bond so deeply with either their parrot or human companions that parting and separation cause great suffering to them, so much so that they have been known to stop eating and die as a result of this. Animals matter because many of them are full of love with a capital ‘L’. There is so much evidence which testifies to this.  In many cases, their love seems to be unconditional, purer and more intense than the love shown by many human beings.  As Bhagawan tells us about His visit to Uganda: “I was really moved by their love and affection.  I could not come out of that place.  Such intense love is not to be found even among human beings today.  The humans hate one another. I could witness an intense, unparalleled love and equality in those animals”…..Sathya Sai Baba Speaks, Volume 30, chapter. 19, p. 280 And “Love is present not only in human beings but also in all creatures, birds or beasts; nor is that all.   It is in fact all pervasive.  Love pervades everything in creation.  Man’s humanness is vitiated when he fails to recognise this love.” – Sathya Sai (SS February 1995, pg 37) Once I rescued a small bird being chased by a cat.  I held the bird in my hands while I sat very still, hoping that this would calm it.  As I looked