Issue 32 – [Go to TOS website] Contentsinternational.theoservice.org/en_archives/en32.pdfIssue 32 – September 2014 [Go to TOS website] Contents Developments from the international

Issue 32 – September 2014 [Go to TOS website]

Contents

Developments from the internationalworking conferences‘Hall Of Fame’ art exhibition inBhubaneswar, India – a report fromTOS group leader, Deepa PadhiOf irresistible dogs, precious fish andtrusting foxes: PortugalA cosy place for little paws: ArgentinaShocking exposé of the leather industryLessons of love and service from theanimal kingdomTOS news from around the world -

AustraliaIndiaItalyPeruSpainUSA

What’s new on the International TOSwebsite?Celebrate your birthday with acts ofkindnessA meditation on our oceans

Dear fellow-members of the TS and TOS around the world,We hope you are enjoying keeping in touch with what is happening in the TOS internationally. Ourelectronic newsletter aims to bring you information to inspire your service work within or outside theTOS and to help you get to know TOS members outside your own country.In addition to news about outstanding service to individuals and communities, this edition has a focuson animal welfare concerns, with inspiring stories about how we can serve and protect our youngerbrothers.Let’s keep in touch and continue to share our experiences. Please consider sending photographs ofyour TOS activities and news items that might be of interest to fellow TOS members. We wouldwelcome your contributions by email to the editors at [email protected] that the newsletter is designed to be read while you are connected to the internet.

With best wishes in putting theosophical principles into action,Carolyn, Diana and Geoffrey

The editorial team (L. to R.)

Diana Dunningham Chapotin is the InternationalSecretary of the TOS.

Geoffrey Harrod is the International TOS Webmaster.

Carolyn Harrod is the past National Coordinator of theTOS in Australia.

“What act of service could be more far-reaching than the careful regulation of the quality ofthe thoughts we think and the emotions we encourage in ourselves? This is the ongoingcontribution to the stream of life that flows through us all. From moment to moment wechoose the quality of our sharing. Will it be a muddied current of confused emotion andthought, or a brightened stream of blessing?”

Tim Boyd, in The Question of Seeing, The Quest, Summer 2014

Developments from the international working conferencesA five year international plan was developed at the 2007 conference and in 2013 anotherconference was held in the same location to review and update the plan. (There are surely no moreprofessional and obliging hosts than the staff and volunteers at the National Centre of the TS inAmerica – the TOS is deeply grateful to them.) The updated plan was published in March this year(e-news 30) and can be consulted here.At the 2013 conference, delegates drafted their own national plans drawing ideas from the sharingat international level. It is interesting to see how each is adapted to local circumstances. One suchexample is the national plan and July 2014 update of the TOS in America. Read more...

‘Hall Of Fame’ art exhibition in Bhubaneswar, India – a report fromTOS group leader, Deepa PadhiLate last April, the work of Dr Satyakam Das, a talented young handicapped artist, was featured bythe TOS in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, at an art exhibition organised in collaboration with RAKAART Foundation.A little over ten years ago, Satyakam had everything going for him. Aged 24, he was a fine armydoctor in Pune, married and blessed with a child. He was an excellent singer, an enthusiasticsportsman and keen amateur artist. Life appeared perfect but then a traffic accident in May 2004left him with multiple injuries which occasioned two long years in the hospital. His wife and sonwithdrew, leaving his family plunged in an ocean of grief.Satyakam, affectionately known as Raja, decided to rebuild his shattered life and faith saw himthrough. Lying on his bed paralysed in three limbs, he started drawing with his left hand. He hasnow made sketches in pencil and charcoal of over a hundred famous people including MahatmaGandhi, Mother Teresa, Rabindranath Tagore, Abraham Lincoln, Einstein and many others. Readmore...

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Of irresistible dogs, precious fish and trusting foxes:PortugalDo you love animals and wish you could think of an activity you and your fellow TOS members couldengage in together to help them in the face of human exploitation, neglect or abuse? The membersof the TOS in Portugal are doing surprising and touching things, both individually and collectively.Read about them here...

A cosy place for little paws: ArgentinaThe TOS in Portugal is not the only group supporting an animal refuge. The TOS in Rosario,Argentina is not just supporting one: Marcela Riaudo, the local coordinator of the TOS in that city,has actually started a shelter herself with the full support of her fellow members. Forty dogs andfour cats are now living together peaceably at “Little Paws under a Roof”.It all started when Marcela opened a dog grooming salon as a way of earning her living. After atime she added a pet minding service but before long she and her associates couldn’t resist lookingafter dogs and cats they found in the streets as well: hurt, sick, battered, abandoned or lost.Read about them here….

Shocking exposé of the leather industryA heartfelt message from Julie Cunningham, the National Secretary of the Theosophical Society(Adyar) in Wales, has drawn our attention to alarming information about the leather industryprovided by the association People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).“Skin is not just a by-product of the meat industry,” we learn, “it is the most economically importantco-product. Many people shun and refuse to wear fur because of the gruesome ways in whichanimals suffer and are killed for their skin. But what about leather? Most consumers are not awareof the cruelty to animals involved in the leather industry or of the detrimental effects of its productionon the environment.”“As part of the human race we share karma,” writes Julie Cunningham, “and if we buy the goods,we reinforce our connection to the cruelty and therefore must have a larger share in the karma.”

Read more...

Lessons of love and service from the animal kingdomDogs aren't only the human's best friends. Pictured here on the cover of the latest For the Love ofLife, journal of the TOS in the USA, are Tarra, the elephant, and her friend and constant companion,Bella. If you want to know how this unlikely pair became friends,read more here.This issue focuses on animals and the lessons of love and service we can learn from them. 28pages of beautiful stories and theosophical insights edited by Ananya Sri Ram Rajan.

TOS news from around the worldIn this issue you’ll find news from the TOS in Peru about a project in their community and an updatefrom the TOS in America about their project to provide gifts to the community of the RosebudIndian Reservation in South Dakota. From the TOS in Spain and the TOS in Assam, India, we havea report on their highly successful annual TOS gathering. There’s also news about fundraisingactivities organised by the TOS in Italy and TOS groups in Australia to support two internationaleducation initiatives – the extension of the curriculum at the Olcott Memorial School, Adyar, and theprovision of basic literacy teaching in the home-schools run by the TOS in Pakistan.Read more...

What’s new on the International TOS website?In our Latest News we bring an update on our fellow Theosophists in Ukraine who say they greatlyappreciate our loving thoughts and messages of concern in the face of the continuing military tensionin eastern regions of the country. Ukrainian citizens are divided in their sympathies on the politicalsituation. TOS members have decided not to discuss this whole political question at their meetingsbut instead to seek together to give aid to the victims of both sides.

The new Featured Article is the third of the talks on Service as Sacred Labour, given by a panel ofspeakers at the International TOS Conference in July 2013. In her talk, Cynthia Trasi shares herrealisation that to be a true Theosophist is to live a life of service, a life of Sacred Labour. She tellsus about Clara Codd’s advice that, like apprentices, we should study and watch the technique of


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Members of the TOS in Ukrainesupporting a refugee camp

great souls and suggests various sources of inspiration.

Our Featured Project describes an initiative of the TOS in America who launched an AnimalHealing Network last year devoted to providing daily healing meditation for sick or terminally ill petsand their human companions. Serving as a complement to the TOS Healing Network for humans,these healing meditations call upon the angelic hosts to send loving, healing power over time anddistance to the suffering animal to comfort and protect until health returns or the soul departs thebody.You’ll also find additions to the TOS photo gallery and the expanded Inspiration section.Go to http://international.theoservice.org/

Celebrate your birthday with acts of kindnessAre you one of those people who aren’t terribly keen on celebrating your own birthday? While youloved birthdays when you were a child, the novelty may have worn off a bit and you never knownowadays what to suggest when friends or family ask what you’d like as a gift…If you are in this category, this story of a young German woman may be for you. Marina Andric ofFrankfurt was about to turn 30 when she read a Good News Network story about a 22-year-old girlwho did 22 acts of kindness on her birthday.“When I read it I felt inspired to do something great for my birthday and after a few evenings ofbrainstorming I had an idea,” she said. Read more here…

A meditation on our oceans

Enjoy this short meditation on our oceans prepared by Greenpeace. Be sure to turn the sound on,even though not a word is spoken.

View the video here... (On YouTube by Greenpeace Italia )

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EN32 Sep 2014 Return to cover-page

Developments from the international working conferencesWhen the TOS organised its first international working conference at the HQ of the TS in America in July2007, an ecologically conscious member from the South Pacific pointed out that we weren’t doing muchfor the planet in terms of carbon footprint by flying people from all around the world to Wheaton.

The organising team was set back on its heels by this home truth and decided then and there that TOSconferences should take place as rarely as possible and be principally working ones. They pledged thatconferences would be designed for active members, committed to the TOS, to come together to involvethemselves in serious planning, ideas sharing, resource production, etc.

A five year international plan was developed at the 2007 conference and in 2013 another conference was heldin the same location to review and update the plan. (There are surely no more professional and obliging hoststhan the staff and volunteers at the National Centre of the TS in America – the TOS is deeply grateful tothem.) The updated plan was published in March this year and can be consulted hereAt the 2013 conference, delegates drafted their ownnational plans drawing ideas from the sharing atinternational level. It is interesting to see how each isadapted to local circumstances. One such exampleis the national plan and July 2014 update of the TOSin America. You can read it here.

The photo to the right shows members of theBoard of the TOS in America with twointernational guests, Carolyn Harrod and DianaDunningham Chapotin (in black and red).Nancy Secrest, the President of the TOS inAmerica, is second from the left.

Planning and review sessions are useful tools formoving an organisation forward and we rejoice in theprogress that has arisen from our workingconferences to date. There is no doubt that the TOSis growing quietly and steadily. In 1984 there wereactive sections in fewer than ten countries. In 2014we have close to triple the number.

A significant number of participants say that some oftheir most productive exchanges at our two workingconferences took place spontaneously, outside officialworking hours. The shining, smiling faces we sawgave witness to the value of simply bringingcommitted, dynamic people together in a meeting ofminds and hearts.

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Bonds of friendship have strengthened at our conferences, giving rise directly to more effective, joyfulcollaboration.

TOS/TS friendships lead to a visit to RomeIt is heart-warming to see what arises from these friendly links. At the TOS conference held in July 2013,Nancy Secrest, the head of the TOS in America, met Patrizia Calvi, delegate from the TOS in Italy. Less thana year later, Nancy had the joy of meeting Patrizia again in Rome after a journey by boat across the Atlantic.

Well before she and her husband Morry set off for Italy, Nancy inquired about the possibility of attending a TSbranch meeting in the capital. She was overjoyed to learn that not only was a visit possible, but that theRomans would be celebrating White Lotus Day at that meeting, AND that the TS General Secretary, AntonioGirardi, would be speaking and Patrizia herself would be there. What could be better? It did get betterthough because Nancy and Morry also enjoyed lunch with Antonio, Patrizia and others before the meeting.


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“It was wonderful to meet members of the TS fromRome and bring greetings from Tim Boyd andothers,” writes Nancy. “They were all so welcomingand kind. I feel a definite bond with Patrizia, Antonioand their fellow members. I don’t believe thatmeeting Theosophists in this way is a purely socialthing. When there is a common ground of dedicationto the TS and its work, doors open. I am inspired tosee how the TS and the TOS in Italy act as one. Atencounters like the one in Rome and at ourconferences, I feel that we are building toward a timewhen the TOS and TS in all countries will also act asone.”

(From left to right) Morry Secrest, Antonio Girardi,Nancy Secrest and Patrizia Calvi

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‘Hall Of Fame’ art exhibition in Bhubaneswar, India –a report from TOS group leader, Deepa Padhi

Late last April, the work of Dr Satyakam Das, a talented young handicapped artist, was featured by theTOS in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, at an art exhibition organised in collaboration with RAKA ArtFoundation.A little over ten years ago, Satyakam had everything going for him. Aged 24, he was a fine army doctorin Pune, married and blessed with a child. He was an excellent singer, an enthusiastic sportsman andkeen amateur artist. Life appeared perfect but then a traffic accident in May 2004 left him with multipleinjuries which occasioned two long years in the hospital. His wife and son withdrew, leaving his familyplunged in an ocean of grief.

Satyakam, affectionately known as Raja, decided to rebuild his shattered life and faith saw him through. Lyingon his bed paralysed in three limbs, he started drawing with his left hand. He has now made sketches inpencil and charcoal of over a hundred famous people including Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa,Rabindranath Tagore, Abraham Lincoln, Einstein and many others.

Mahatma Gandhi Mother TeresaI had the privilege of meeting Satyakam in January2014. When I saw his sketches which reflect hiscourage and his spirit for life, it occurred to me thathe needed support to strengthen further his sense ofpurpose and direction.Keeping in view the TOS’s objective of lesseningsuffering in the world with compassion and empathy,the TOS in Bhubaneswar took the initiative oforganising an exhibition of Satyakam’s sketches. Itwas felt that an exhibition would set him on the roadto the recognition he deserves.


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A great many people from all spheres of life attendedthe event, particularly artists, art lovers and artstudents.It received wide coverage by press and the electronicmedia.

Satyakam was overwhelmed by the arrangementsmade by the TOS including his transport byvolunteers to the event and the arrangement of pressinterviews for him.

The chief guest, Dr Chandrabhanu Satpathy, a mystic saint and scholar, inaugurated the exhibition and calledupon people to convert their pain into creativity, as Satyakam has done. He said that behind all pain there istremendous energy which needs to be utilised in a constructive way.

Guest of honour, Dr Dinanath Pathi, an artist of international repute and the chairman of RAKA Art Foundation,said that true artists realise the divinity within them. The more they realise it, the more successful they are asartists.Dr Shruti Mohapatra, the Commissioner of the Child Protection Commission who herself is disabled, said thatdisabled persons should not feel helpless or hopeless but rather should strengthen their will power andconfidence to achieve their goals.Satyakam's father spoke about Satyakam's life pre- and post-accident. He has been nursing Satyakam for thelast ten years. Satyakam says his father is his hero! TOS member Sucharita Mohapatra proposed a vote ofthanks to the guests present.To raise the funds necessary to organise the exhibition, the TOS ran jumble sales and sold its calendarspromoting gender equality.

Einstein Aung San Suu Kyi


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Portugal: Of irresistible dogs, precious fish and trusting foxesDo you love animals and wish you could think of an activity you and your fellow TOS members could engagein together to help them in the face of human exploitation, neglect or abuse? The members of the TOS inPortugal are doing surprising and touching things, both individually and collectively.

Once a week for several months, the members met at the animal refuge “Associação Focinhos e Bigodes” tooffer treats to all the abandoned dogs in the kennels and to take for a walk two dogs assigned to them forspecial loving attention.

Buddy LottieThe members have been collecting funds for the refuge for some years now but the sponsorship of individualdogs is a closer form of cooperation that has had a very happy outcome. Buddy was adopted and Lottie’s lifehas changed a lot too. She found her way into the loving family of the coordinator of the TOS in Portugal! On31 January 2014 José António Machado Alves and his wife, Isabel Nobre Santos, adopted Lottie. A familymember now and a sister to Astérix, Lottie’s loving presence by their side is a permanent reminder of the lovethat should link the various kingdoms of nature.

Lottie already at home Astérix


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Asterix and Lottie co-existed at first, studying oneanother, as can be seen in this photo. Finally theybecame good friends and now they choose to share thesame bed!When you support a refuge and sponsor two of itsresidents, beware of the risk of becoming attached.

José António continues to take the philosophy and practice of vegetarianism out into the community, offeringdelicious food samples at the conclusion of his presentations. He speaks at municipal and university locationswhere his programmes are warmly appreciated.

Koot Hoomi branch member, Paulo Carvalho Silva,has a deep love of nature. The expertise he hasacquired as a volunteer in conservation projects hasled the Sesimbra City Council to ask his help inpreserving a race of very small fish that exist only inthe rivers of Portugal. To the right is the Portugueseboga.

Paulo is also a protector of the small foxes that live in the Arrábida sierras in Sesimbra. These foxes trust him socompletely that they let him photograph them even in broad daylight!

Two of Paulo’s friends

Members of the TOS in Portugal engage in a variety of activities, gently supported by their previousCoordinator, the ever active Alida Rodrigues. All are guided by the spirit of loving service and hope to awakenpeople to a deeper understanding of the One Life pervading all the kingdoms of nature. They see their TS, TOSand personal activities as a seamless garment, as a single, integrated way of theosophical living.

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Argentina: A cosy place for little pawsThe TOS in Portugal is not the only group supporting an animal refuge. The TOS in Rosario, Argentina isnot just supporting one: Marcela Riaudo, the local coordinator of the TOS in that city, has actually started ashelter herself with the full support of her fellow members. Forty dogs and four cats are now living togetherpeaceably at “Little Paws under a Roof”.It all started when Marcela opened a dog grooming salon as a way of earning her living. After a time sheadded a pet minding service but before long she and her associates couldn’t resist looking after dogs andcats they found in the streets as well: hurt, sick, battered, abandoned or lost.

Marcela and friends now bathe, feed and lodge neglected dogs. They take the females to the municipal vetwho sterilises them free of charge. Their campaign to find homes for both adult dogs and puppies is goingexcellently. Sharing their work through Facebook is a great help in this regard: https://www.facebook.com/patitasbajo.techo?fref=ts

Marcela and her team are particularly happy whenan adult dog is adopted as most people want

puppies.

During Christmas and New Year many dogs are so frightened of the firecrackers that some run away and getlost. When the Shelter finds this sort of well-cared-for dog, the team takes a picture and uses the internet tofind its owners. We can just imagine the joy of the reunions!

In Buenos Aires, TOS members have long been raising money to help support an animal protection centrenamed San Roque.


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Our Argentinian sisters and brothers are not neglecting their fellow humans, however. The new TOScoordinator in Ciudad de la Plata volunteers a great deal of her time in assisting the elderly and also thepsychologically distressed people looked after by compassionate and devoted nuns in a convent.

The TOS in Argentina recently organised a theatre show performed by a TS group named Chalten to collectmoney for two children’s hospitals in Buenos Aires.

The National TOS Director, Norberto Cicirelli and thelocal TOS coordinator in the city of Carlos Paz havealso been delivering clothes and other items to theCura Brochero Institute that offers food and shelter tothe homeless and those in transit.

The TS is represented in 15 cities in Argentina and several of the branches have a TOS group operating withinthem. They are creative and constructive teams doing as much as they can as a community outreach forTheosophy.

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Shocking exposé of the leather industryA heartfelt message from Julie Cunningham, the National Secretary of the Theosophical Society (Adyar) inWales, has drawn our attention to alarming information about the leather industry provided by theassociation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

“Skin is not just a by-product of the meat industry,”we learn, “it is the most economically importantco-product. Many people shun and refuse to wearfur because of the gruesome ways in which animalssuffer and are killed for their skin. But what aboutleather? Most consumers are not aware of the crueltyto animals involved in the leather industry or of thedetrimental effects of its production on theenvironment.”

“As part of the human race we share karma,” writesJulie Cunningham, “and if we buy the goods, wereinforce our connection to the cruelty and thereforemust have a larger share in the karma.”

We certainly have a choice and can find stylishaccessories and clothes that do not have a history ofanimal cruelty. To quote fashion designer, StellaMcCartney, "As a designer, I like to work with fabrics that don'tbleed; that's why I avoid all animal skins. Please joinme in exploring the huge variety of fashionable shoes,belts, purses and wallets that aren't the product of acow's violent death. You can buy cruelty-free fashionall over the place now, since demand is alwaysincreasing as people learn the dark truth about the furand leather and exotic-skins trade."

We can make an informed choice by reading the surprising facts about leather hereGo to top


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Theosophical order of service, Usa spring 2014

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.

—anaTole france

For the Love of Life 1

Editor AnanyaS.Rajan

Designer LindsayFreeman

OfficErs anD BOarD Of DirEctOrs

President NancySecrest

secretary AnanyaS.Rajan

treasurer BettyBland

Board Members TimBoyd KathyGann JonKnebel JeanneProulx

Honorary Board Members JosephGullo MilesStandish

ContactinformationfortheTheosophicalOrderofServiceintheUnitedStates:

Mailing address TheosophicalOrder ofService 1926N.MainSt Wheaton,IL60187

send donations by check to: P.O.Box1080 Wakefield,NC27588

Phone 630-668-1571ext.332

E-mail [email protected]

Website www.theoservice.org

to leave a name for the Healing network: 800-838-2197.

[email protected]

FormoreinformationabouttheTOSaroundtheworld,gotohttp://international.theoservice.org/

Disclaimer

Articles and material in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Theosophical Order of Service or the editor of this journal. An effort is made at all times to give a fair consideration of views. —TheEditor

contentsspring 2014

For the Love of LifeTheosophical order of service, Usa

2 from the president’s desk ByNANCySECREST

4 The reason Why ByRAdHABURNIER

5 an inside look at animals an interview with robyn finseth ByNANCySECREST

9 To Ziggy with love ByANANyAS.RAJAN

12 Meet the girls ByANANyAS.RAJAN

14 on service animals ByNANCySECREST

19 do animals have rights? ByMORRySECREST

22 Beagle freedom project ByKATHyGANN

23 happy Birthday Jane

25 Where the Wild Things are ByANANyAS.RAJAN

28 scholarship recipients On tHE cOvEr:

FRIENdSFORLIFETIMES--BELLAWITHTARRAROAMTHEGROUNdSAT

THEELEPHANTSANCTUARy.dESPITEHERSIzE,BELLAWASKNOWNTOBE

PROTECTIvEOFHERdEARELEPHANTFRIENd.(SEETHEIRSTORyONPAGE12.)

Spring 20142

from the president’s desk By nancy sEcrEst

“Aunionofthosewholoveintheserviceofallthatsuffers,”themottooftheTheosophicalOrderofService,includesloveandservicetoanimals.

Someofusserveanimalsinprofessionalcapacitiesasveterinarians,trainers,groomersorprovidersofanimalcareproducts.Othersadvocateforanimalrights.Manyofusarevegetarians,therebypracticingahimsa(harmlessness)towardanimalsinourdailylives.SomeofushavejoinedtheTOS’animalhealingnetworksendinghealingthoughtsandintentionstosickorinjuredanimals.Thoseofuswhoshareourliveswithpetsexpresspubliclyourspecialbondtothoseanimals,acceptingresponsibilityforourpets’careandwell-being.Allofourpetsagejustaswedo.Withagecomesthoughtsofdeathandendoflifecare.

Mykitty,Sylvester,isnearlyeighteenyearsold.That’saboutahundredinpeopleyears.LastweekSylvesterscratchedhiseye.Hehasanallergy.Towhat,wehaveneverbeenabletodetermine,butitcauseshimtoitch.Hetakesmedsfortheitch,steroids,whichhelp,buthestillscratchessometimes.Normally,heaimsforhisneck.Thistimehemissed.

Hiseyebecamesquintyandrunny,andwecalledthevet.Letmerephrasethat.Wetriedtocallthevet.Afterseveralphonecalls,avisittohisnowvacantofficeandquestioninganothernearbyvet,welearnedthatSylvester’sveterinarianhadretired.Somenoticeandareturnofmedicalrecordswouldhavebeennice,butohwell.Theothervetwashappytotakeover,buthadnoavailableappointmentsforthreedays,andsuggestedtheanimalemergencyhospital.

TherewelearnedthatSylvesterhasanulceronhiscornea.TheERtreatedthat,andsentushomewithmeds,averystylishfunnelshapedcollarthatSylvesterjustloved(yes,that’ssarcasm),andtheknowledgethathehasaheartmurmur.Afewdayslater,thenewvetfollowedupontheeyeinjury.Shealsotookblood,urineandx-raystoassesskitty’scurrentstateofhealth.

Sylvesterwasbornaferalkitten,partofalitterofthree,fromamotherwhowasmostlikelybornferalherself.Hismamaregularlyprowledourneighborhoodstalkingthemiceandbirdsthatkeptheraliveandavoidingcloseencountersofthehumankind.Aratheruglycat,hermottledgrayandbrowncoatlookedlikevomit.Herhalfmissingleftearattestedtotheroughlifeshelived.Wefirstmetherandherlitterwhenshemovedthemunderour

house.Kittymamastendtomovetheirlittersseveraltimestokeepthemsafefrompredators.Ilikedwatchingtheanticsofthekittenswhiletheychasedbutterfliesorplayedtogether,andherlittletrainingsessionswithherbrood.Iputoutfoodtokeepherfrommovingthemagain.Itworked.

Onedaysheledthekittenstoawoodpilenextdoorforamousehuntinglessonnodoubt.youmay

notknowthatkittensmustbetaughthowtohuntbytheirmothers.Theyarenotbornwiththeknowledge.Onekitten,whomwenamedAbby(laterchangedtoAbner),laggedbehind.Hestoppedatthefence,hismamaandhislittermatesnowhereinsight.Whatasetoflungs!Hemewedandmeweduntilmamacameback.Sheclimbedoverthefence,pickedhimupinhermouthandreturnedtothewoodpiletocontinuethekittens’lesson.Theyweremediumhaireddomesticsbybreedwithsoft,shinyfur.ThelitterincludedAbnerwhowasblackandwhite,agoldtabbyfemalewhomwenamedPrecious,andSylvester.AlthoughSylvesterisaveryeleganttuxedocatwithwhitebootsandmittens,heprovedtobethewildestofthethree.

Iknewtheywereweanedwhenthekittensattemptedtoeatfromtheirmother’sdish.Sylvester,thealphamale,battedtheothertwoawayfromthefood.Thelittleupstarttriedthesamewithhismother,andfoundhimselfrollingacrosstheporchlikeaballofyarn.Hedidn’ttrythatagain.

OnedayPreciousstooduponherhindlegs,leanedagainstourscreendoor,lookedinandsneezed.Withthatsneezeandthefactthattheywereweaned,Idecidedtotrytocatchthekittens.Ididn’tthinkthatmuchcouldbedonefortheirmother.Shewasjusttoowild,butthekittenshadachanceatagoodlifeinthecareofpeople.

Iriggedatrapinsidethehouse,baiteditwithfood,openedthedoorandwaitedoutofsight.Itdidn’ttakelongforthefoodtoattractPrecious.Onceshewasinside,Iclosedthetrap.I’dalreadysetuparoomwithalitterboxandfoodwhereIletherout,closedthedoorandlefther.

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TOSPRESIdENTNANCySECREST


Shewentnuts,literallyclimbingthewallsandrunningaroundandaroundtheroomlookingforanescape.Thenextday,Ienteredtheroom,threwatoweloverhersothatIcouldpickherupandcradledherinmylap,rockingandsingingtoherforaboutanhourbeforeshecalmeddown.Thatwasit.Shewastame.Wevisitedthevetwhosetreatmentforherrespiratoryinfectionprobablysavedherlife.

Abnerwasnext,tamedwithinaday.Sylvesterprovedmorechallenging.Hewasluredintothetrapandcaughtmuchliketheotherkittenshadbeen,butheescaped.Hedidhiswallclimbinginourlivingroom,andwhenmyhusbandattemptedtogethimdownfromthetopofourdrapesbloodwasspilled,anditwasn’tSylvester’s.Finally,Sylvesterrandownandhidunderacabinetforaboutfivedaysuntilhetentativelywanderedoutonhisown.Wepretendedtoignorehimforawhile.Then,Iwrappedhimupinatowelsohecouldn’tscratchmeanddidtherockingandsingingthinguntilhewascalminmylap.WhilePreciousandAbnerwerefinewithallpeopleoncetamed,itwasyearsbeforeSylvesterwouldallowanyonebutmyhusbandormetotouchhim.Hehidwheneverwehadcompanyuntiljustafewyearsago.Thevetwasanexception.HemusthavehadsomespecialvibethatSylvesterfeltandtrusted.

ThevethadsuggestedthatItrytocatchthemamacatinthesamewaythatIhadcaughtherkittens.HesaidthatifIdid,hewouldspayherforfree,andthenIcouldreturnherto“thewild”asitisuselesstotrytotameanadultcatthatistrulyferal.Shewasatoughlittlequeen,butIdidmanageto

trapher,thistimeusingacatcarriersothatshecouldbetransportedsafely.Ilaterlearnedthatmostvetsadheretoaspay/neuterandreleaseprogramforferalcatsinanattempttoreducethecatpopulation.

PreciousandSylvestercontinuedtolivewithus.Abnerwenttomymother-in-lawwhogavehertoa

friendinneedofacompanion.SheintroducedAbnertothecatshowworldwherehewonprizes.Preciouswentmissinganumberofyearsago.Alittleneighborboyfoundhercollarabouttwoblocksawayandreturnedittous,butweneversawheragain.Sylvesterhasbeenwithusforeighteenyears.Otherthantheallergyandsometoothextractions,hishealthhasbeenperfect,untilnow.

Hisnewvetconfirmedtheheartmurmurandexplainedthatitcouldmeanheartdiseaseoraproblemwith

avalve.Hemayneedtobereferredtoakittycardiologist.Theresultsofthebloodwork,urinetestingandx-raysareintoo.Hehassomearthritis,nosurpriseathisage,hisaortaismisshapenandonekidneyisenlarged.Thevetsuspectskidneydisease,butitcouldjustbeaninfectionthatcanbetreatedandcured.We’llknowwhichbytheendofthisweek.Regardless,allofthemedicalattentionfocusedonSylvesterthisweekhasmademethinkofouranimals,ourpets,andtheirendoflifecare.

Animalscannotgiveadvancehealthdirectives.Theymustrelyonustoactintheirbestinterests.Animalsareofteneuthanizediftheirownersfeeltheirpetsaresufferingtoomuch,oriftreatmenthasbecomecostprohibitive.Thelatterisanunfortunatebutrealisticfactoflifethatpetownersmustsometimesface.Mostofuswouldgotogreatlengthstopreservethehealthofourpets,butmanycannotaffordthecostsoncereallyseriousillnessisdiagnosed.Petinsurancedoesexist,butObamaCaredidnotreachintotheanimalworldand,unfortunatelyforSylvester,thosewithpreexistingconditionsareexcludedfromapplying.

So,whatthen?WilltreatmentforSylvesterstopwhenwecannolongeraffordit?Ifwedoneedtostoptreatment,willhesuffer,andifheissuffering,willweopttoendhislifeorchoosetoeaseanypainandallowhimtodienaturally?ThesequestionscametomewhileIheldSylvesterinmylap.Icanonlyhopethatwhenhisenddoescome,itwillbequietandpainfree.Perhapshe’llbesittinginmylappurring,beingpettedandthinkingaboutchasingbutterflies.

NANCyANdSyLvESTER

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The reason Why By raDHa Bu rn i Er

T heTheosophicalSocietyimposesnorestrictionsonthelivesofitsmembers;theyare

freetoadoptanylifestylethatsuitsthem.Theobligationsmemberstakeuponthemselves,voluntarilyofcourse,areindicatedbytheObjectsoftheSocietytowhichtheysubscribewhileenrollingthemselves.

Aquestionoccasionallyarisesaboutthedietarynormadoptedattheosophicalcentres,conferences,summerschoolsandsoforth,whereonlyvegetarianfoodismadeavailable.NowandagainamemberremarksthatHPBherselfwasnotavegetarian,implyingthatTheosophyandvegetarianismareunconnected.

Theosophy,however,istherecognition,followedlaterbyfullrealisation,oflifeasoneindivisiblewhole.Forthesmallestaswellasthegreatestformsoflife,thereexistsonlyoneformofsustenanceandenergy,bywhatevernameitiscalled.Theunitarynatureoflifeisthebasis,notonlyoftheFirstObjectoftheSociety,namelyuniversalbrotherhoodwithoutanydistinctionswhatsoever,butalsooftheotherObjects.Theheartofeverygreatreligionisunitywhichwhenlived,islove.Alltheprofounderperceptionsinthefieldsofphilosophyandsciencearealsoconvergingtowardsthiscentraltruth.AndaseachpersonentersdeeplyintohisorherownconsciousnessandunderstandshowNatureworks,thetruthandbeautyoftheunbreakablewholeillumineshumanconsciousness.

Therefore,whenarrangementsaremadeforconferencesandothereventsonbehalfoftheSociety,inaccordancewiththefoundationalprincipleofthe

onenessandsacrednessofalllife,foodthatcausestheleastinjuryandharmischosen.

InThe Key to Theosophy HPBsays:Whenthefleshofanimalsisassimilatedbymanasfood,itimpartstohimphysiologically,someofthe

characteristicsoftheanimalitcamefrom.Moreover,occultscienceteachesandprovesthistoitsstudentsbyoculardemonstration,showingalsothatthis‘coarsening’or‘animalising’effectonmanisgreatestfromthefleshofthelargeranimals,lessforbirds,stilllessforfishandothercold-bloodedanimals,andleastofallwhenheeatsonlyvegetables.

Theenquirerretorts,“Thenhehadbetternoteatatall?”towhichtheansweroftheTheosophistisstatedbyHPB:

If he could live without eating, of course it would. But as the matter stands, he must eat to live, and so we advise really earnest students to eat such food as will least clog and weight their brains and bodies, and will have

the smallest effect in hampering and retarding their inner faculties andpowers.

ThereisthusgoodreasonwhyatofficiallyorganisedgatheringsoftheSociety,thefoodprovidedisvegetarian.Theminimumharmisdonetoothercreatures;andrespectforlife—thelifewhichisnot‘ours’or‘theirs’,butone—ismaintained.Plantsdonothaveanervoussystemanddonotsufferpaininthesamewayasmoreevolvedcreatureswhichdohaveit.Oneday,ifsomeotherformoffoodderivedfromminerals,orevenair,isathand,thatmaybepreferredatofficiallyorganisedfunctions!Orientaltraditionssuggestthispossibility.

Allthewhile,individualmembersremainfreetofollowtheirowncourseindiet,foralifestylebasedonunitymustbetheresultofintellectualconvictionorintuitiverealisationandnotofdogma.

ConditionswereverydifferentinHPB’sdays.Theenormouscrueltyofintensivefarmingandprofit-orientedgeneticmanipulationdidnotexistthen,nordidthevastandurgentecologicalissueofexpendinggrainandwateronbreedinganimalsasabusiness.Theintellectualreasonsagainstsystematicpracticeofcruelty,ecologicalimprudenceandwrongnotionsabouthealthcarearestrong.ItistobehopedthatincreasinglyTSmembersandotherswillcometointuitiverecognitionoftheunityofalllifeastheonlysurebasisofuniversallybeneficentaction.

—Reprintedfrom“OntheWatchTower” in The Theosophist August1996

RAdHABURNIER


an inside look at animals By nancy sEcrEst

An interview with Robyn Finseth

D oesyourdoghaveanaura?Whatdoesitlooklike?doesyourcatseemreally

“familiar”?Perhapsthisisn’tyourfirstlifetimetogether.doanimalshavesouls?dotheyreincarnate?Togivereadersamoremetaphysicalviewofanimalsandperhapsanswersomeofthesequestions, For The Love of LifespokewiththeosophistRobynFinseth,whowasbornwiththegiftofclairvoyance,aboutherspecialviewofanimals.WetalkedwithRobynaboutanimals’auras,indicationsofgroup

soulsandsomeideasaboutanimalsandreincarnation.Thefollowingarticleisbasedonthatinterviewandincludesexcerptsfromit.

Robynisasecondgenerationtheosophist.Northwesterners,herparents,KenandBeaLawrence,werePortlandlodgemembersandwenttoCampIndralayaonOrcasIsland,Washington.RobynandhersisterdonnastartedgoingtothecampwhenRobynwaselevenanddonnafourteen,alwaysenjoyingtheatmosphereandthefriendships

theymade.Robynwasfortunateinthatherparentswerebothsensitiveandhelpfulinunderstandinghergifts.OtherPortlandtheosophistsandfamilyfriends,AnnaBerkieandEdithandPerryKarstenhelpedhertounderstandherabilities.AtCampIndralaya,RobynmetdoraKunzwhohelpedherimmeasurablytoclarifyherpathandteachers.dora,aformerpresidentoftheTheosophicalSocietyinAmerica,authoredthebookThe Personal AurapublishedbyQuestBooks.dora’sbrother,HarryvanGelderbecameRobyn’smainmentor,however,andremainedsothroughoutheradultyears.HarryvanGelder,clairvoyantinhisownright,iswellknownamongtheosophists,especiallyinthenorthwesternUnitedStates,CanadaandAustralia,asanoutspokentheosophicalteacherandasahealer.ItwasthroughhisinfluencethatRobynherselfbecameachiropractor,incorporatingsomeofHarry’shealingmethodsintoherpracticeandmakinggooduseofhergiftsonadailybasis.

Robyn,anattractiveblondwithsparklingblueeyes,spokewithaself-assuredquietnessborn,Isuspect,frommanyyearsofmeditationandlifeexperience.Onecouldseestrengthinherstanceandthesetofherjaw,andsensedthegentlenessofherhealingtouchinthegracefulmovementofherhandsasshetalked.Robynleanedforwardwithintentionasshebegan.Whatshesharedwithuswasdrawnfromherlifeexperiencebeginningwithherearlychildhoodwhenshefirstbecameconsciouslyawareofher“realsight.”

“Thiswholearticleisbasedon

myexperiencesandwhatlittleIdrewfromothers.IdonotprofesstobeanexpertonanythingbutwhatIsee.Let’sberealclearonthatbecauseIdon’twantsomeonetobeinsultedbythisandsay‘Oh,no,shedoesn’tknowwhatshe’stalkingabout.’ImayverywellnotknowwhatI’mtalkingabout.However,Idoknowmyownpersonalexperiencesandconsequentlytheyareminetoshare.”

aurasAnauraisafieldofluminousradiationorlightthatsurroundsthehumanbodyanddepictsaperson’sgeneralpersonality,currentemotionalstateandindicateshealth.Besideshumans,otheranimalsandplantshaveauras.Evenrockshaveaslightvibrationalfield.Aurasappearcloud-like,filledwithavarietyofcoloredlightaroundourbodies.Inhumanstheyarequiteintricatewithvariouslayersandcolorsthatcanexpandtotwenty-fourorforty-eightinchesfromourbodies.Comparedtothoseofpeople,animals’aurasareverybasicandusuallydonotexpand.Ifananimal’sauradoesexpand,it’sonlyfromfourtosixinchesfromthebody.Expansionoccurswithanextremeemotionalresponse.

“Wealsohavetheintellectualcapacityofunderstanding[thatananimallacks].”Itcouldbecalledasenseofawareness.Thehumanauraalsoexpandstoconnectwithothers.“Whenyouaregivingloveyourauraisexpandingtowardsthatofanotherperson.Eventhoughadogisveryexcitedandhappytoseehisowner,hisaurajusttendstobefluffierand

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doesnotexpandasmuchtotouchhisowner’saura.Iftheaurastouch,it’stheperson’saurathatisexpandingtotouchthedog’sauraratherthanthereverse.”

Allofusarefascinatedbythecolorsoftheauraandwhattheysayaboutusandothers.Thecolorsinahumanauracanvarythroughoutthecolorwheel.BookssuchasThe Personal Aura,bydoraKunz,givegeneralindicationsofwhatvariouscolorsmean.Heretoo,“Animals’aurasaremorebasic,withthepredominantcolorsusuallybeingeitherapink,green,orbrown,someyellowandoccasionallyblue.Whilethecolorsinhumanaurascansometimesappear“marblely,”[ormuddled]thecolorsinanimalaurasaremoreclear.

“Whenanimalsarehappy,theiraurasareallrosyandfluffy.Thepinkindicateslove.Sometimesthere’salittleredmixedinwithit.Abitof‘Gee,areyougoingtobehappywithmenow?Areyousureyou’reokay,oramIokay?didIdoanythingwrong?’Redinananimal’sauraindicatesagitation.Itcanalsobepresentiftherearejealousiestowardanotherpet,suchas‘soandsohasmorethanIdo.’There’salittlebitofyellowtoo.So,there’salsoabitofthinkingwithananimal.Greenisearthyandindicatesourlife’sworkinthehumanaura.Thisistrueforanimalsaswell.Weallknowthatdifferentbreedsofdogswerebredtoperformdifferent‘jobs’suchasherding,guarding,retrievingorpulling.IfanAlaskanHusky,forexample,ispullingadogsledoraguidedogisleadingavisuallyimpairedperson,theiraurawouldbepredominantlygreenwhileperformingthiswork.Acat’saurais

greenwhenitishunting.Occasionallybluecanbeseeninananimal’sauraaswell.Blueindicatesdevotion.Inthecaseofananimalthedevotionwouldbetowarditsmaster.

“Animals’aurasdon’thavethemuddycolorsthatourscanhavelikewhenwearedepressed.Notthatananimalcan’tbedepressed,it’sjustthatwhentheyaredepressedtheiraurastendtobejustbrown.They’renotso“marblely.”There’salsoacirculationinthehumanaura.Ialwaystalkaboutitaswatergoingdownadrain,butitdoesn’tgodownthedrainneatly.Itgoesdown‘expandedly’,inreverse,acounter-clockwisemotion,anditexpandsorspreadslikemud.Itlookslikemud,kindofoozy.

“Animalsalsohaveanethericbodyjustlikeahuman.”Theethericbodyisseenasthelayeroftheauraclosesttothephysicalbody.Asitmirrorsthephysical,itcanshowindicationsofphysicalillnessordistress.Itiscolorless,andappearsasanarrow

layeroflightaroundthebody.“Ourethericextends[fromthebody]probablythreetofourinches.Inadogoracatitismorelikelytoextendonetothreeinchesmaybe,atthemost.Theethericlookslikefeathers.Mydadalwayscalledthemfeathers.It’snotsmooth,butabitmoreruffled.Animals’[ethericbodies]alsohave‘feathers,’againnotasbigasours,andwhentheyaredepressed,thelittlefeathersareflatandtheylookgloomy.Theyfeelgloomy,andtheiraurasarebrown.”

Onecolor,Robynsaid,thatshehadneverseeninananimal’sauraisblack.Blackinahumanauraindicateshatredorevil.Animalsdonotfeelthisemotionandarenotevil.Theysimplyarewhattheyare,inthemoment,atalltimes.“Evenifananimalisinattackingmode,itsauraisnotblack.Itisactuallyterrifiedsoitsauraisred[indicatingagitation],andgray[indicatingfear].Fearisicy.Fearisgray.I’veneverseenarabidanimal,but

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WHENINTERACTINGWITHAHUMAN,ITISTHEOWNER’SAURATHATExPANdSTOTHEANIMALS.


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eventhen,Idon’tthinkitsaurawouldbeblack.”Arabidanimalissickandpossiblyconfused,notevil.

Beinginthemoment,therearenogrudgeswithanimals.Ananimalthathasbeenabusedmayholdamemorythatmanifestsasfearandalackoftrust.Allofuscanseethatintheireyesorintheircoweringstance.But,“There’snojudgment,dounderstandthat,nojudgmentwithanimals.Animalsdon’tholdgrudges.”

WeaskedRobynifthislackofjudgmentmaybeonereasonwhypeopleareoftenmorecomfortablearoundanimalsthanaroundotherpeople.

“Ohyes,yes,theyfeelaccepted.Weallwantunconditionalacceptance.Weallwantit,andwehavedifficultygivingittoourselves,andifyoucan’tgiveittoyourself,youcertainlycan’tgiveittoanotherhumanbeing.”Sometimeswefinditeasiertoshareanunconditionalacceptancewithourpets.“Adogiseagertoplease.So,adogisemotionallymoresatisfyingtomostpeoplebecausetheyareeagertoplease,andtheirwholeworldcentersaroundiftheyarepleasingyou.Sothere’saneagerness[thatwefindappealing].Theirlittletailwagiscoincidingwiththeirpinkaura.There’snotalotofmiddlegroundintheaurasofanimals.Theyareeitherpink[happy],orbrown[depressed].Evenwithkitties,there’snotalotofmiddleground.

“So,cats,interestingly,aredifferentthandogs.Catsjustbytheirnaturearemoreintelligent.Theiraurasarealittlemoreyellow.They’refiguring,andthey’rethinkingandthey’recunningandsoyoucansaythat[inthisway]acatismoreintelligentthanadog.youcansaythatacatisclairvoyantwhichmakessense,butIthinkdogsaretoo.Ithinkthere’salevelofclairvoyance.

youknow,it’ssortofliketheirsmellerisbetterthanours.Ithinkprobablytheir‘sight’isbetterthanourstoo.Iknewsomeonewhoworkedinanursinghome,andtheyhadanimalsthatlivedinthisnursinghome.Theyhadaparticulardogwhowouldannouncewhowasgettingreadytodie.Itwouldjumponthebedandnotleaveforanyreasonuntilthepersonpassed.Ifindthatfascinating.”

GrOuP sOuLsOurtheosophicalliteratureputsforththepremisethatwhileeachhumanhasanindividualsoul,animalshavegroupsouls.Agroupsoulmeansone

soulforanumberofcats,anotherforanumberofdogs,lions,birds,bees,etc.

dr.RudolfSteiner,thefounderofAnthroposophy,agreedwiththispremiseandrelatedthegroupsoulconcepttofingersthrustthroughascreen.Ononesideofthescreenweseetheindividualfingers.However,theactionsoftheindividualsaredirectedbythehandtowhichtheyarealljoined—thegroupsoul.Whenwewatchindividualanimals,manyofthemappearquiteclever.However,hewentontosay,“Lookatthebirdsinflight,howtheysweepoverthedifferentregions,andhowwell-orderedtheyare;howinautumntheygooff,intheirflocks,tosome

warmerclimate,comingbackagainwiththeSpring…Ifwewatchabeaverbuilding,weseethereismorewisdominwhatitbuildsthaninthegreatestengineeringfeat.Andtheintelligenceshowninthewaythebeesworkhasalsobeentheobjectofstudy...behindthisworkisthespiritofthebeehive.Thesinglebeesallbelongtoonepersonality,inthewaythatourlimbsbelongtous—onlythebeesaremorespreadoutthanourmorecloselyconnected,morecompactlimbs.”Thewisdominthisorderingcomesfromthegroupsoul.(“TheGroupSoulsofAnimals,PlantsandMinerals”,alecturegivenbydr.RudolfSteiner,Frankfurt-on-Main,2ndFebruary,1908,GA98,http://wn.rsarchive.org/Lectures/19080202p01.html).

Robynspokeofbeehivesaswell.HerobservationsconcurredwithSteiner’s.“Beesarefascinatingbecausetheyreallydon’tappeartohaveanyintellectotherthantheintellectofthehive.Antshavethesamefeeltothemandsodocockroachesoranyoftheothernestingtypeinsects.”

Besidesthegroupconnectiononthesoullevel,animalswholiveinherds,hivesorotherkindsofgroupsalsohaveakindofgroupconsciousnesswithintheirherdorhivethatoftenincludesahierarchy.Robyntoldusthat,“WhenIwasayounggirl,Iwasatmygrandma’sranch.Shedidn’thavecows,butlotsofothersdid.Itwasveryobviouswhotheheadcowwasassheappearedtolead.Idon’trememberthecolorsintheirauras.Ijustrememberthem[theirauras]beingmoreliketentacles,likethey’rekindofallrelated.So,IthinkifBessie,theleadcow,feltfear,thenGertrude,intheback,feltfear.I’veseenaherdofdeeraswellandtheyarethesame.

“I’veneverseenaslaughter,soI

However, when we pet our

cat and hear it purr, see

our dog’s tail wag when we

enter a room and see the

trust and love in our pets’

eyes, don’t we wonder who’s

helping whom?

Spring 20148

can’timagine.I’msurethat’sjusthorrible.Harry[vanGelder]alwayssaidthatthereasonwedon’teatmeatisbecauseyoucan’ttaketheterroroutofthemeat.So,youareconsumingthatterror,andthatjustmadesensetome.ThehardestthingformenowiswhenIdrivetowork…whenthetruckscomebywithboxesofchickens…thataregoingtosomeslaughterhouse.The

feelofitisjusthorrible.Theyallknow.Soeventhoughtheyarenotbright…theyknowwhentheyaredying.”

rEincarnatiOnInherarticle,“HaveAnimalsSouls?”(Theosophist,January,FebruaryandMarch,1886)H.P.Blavatskycomparesandcontraststheconceptsofvariousreligions,philosophiesandscientistsregardingtheexistenceofsoulsinanimalsandwhetherornotindividualanimalsreincarnate.Contrarytothegenerallyexpoundedtheosophicalthoughtthatindividualanimals

donotreincarnate,inthisarticleBlavatskybringstoviewandsupportstheideasofanumberofphilosophersandchurchmen,nottheleastofthemSt.Paul,that“Thesoulsofanimalsareimperishable”(Leibnitz)and“Holyscriptureshintinvariouspassagesthatthebrutesshallliveinfuturelives.”(dean,thevicarofMiddleton,1748).

Robyn’sexperiencewithanimalsbearsthisout.“Iknowthateverythingincarnates,andIdon’tunderstand

incarnationwellenoughtoknowifwegofromthisanimal,tothatanimaltothishuman.And,Idon’tthinkthatifwearereallybadpeoplewebecomecockroaches(pleaseexcuseanydisrespecttowardscockroaches).Ithinkthatifwearereally,reallybad

wemightjustblowupandneverincarnateagain.That’stheonlythingthatmakessensetome.WhathappenedtotheHitlersoftheworld?didtheynotjustblowupandthey’rejustgone?”

EvOLutiOnLivingwithpeoplehelpsanimalsintheirevolutionaryjourneys.Theybenefitfromtheloveandaffectionthatwegivethem,andyoumightevensaythatweactas“rolemodels”fortheirfuturelives.“WehadaGermanshepherd,apairofshepherds,

andthemalewasaverydifficultanimal.WhenIdidareadingonhim,Idiscoveredthatforseverallifetimeshehadbeenaguard,anattackdog,andthiswashisfirstincarnationoutofthatworld.Iknewhowimportantitwasthatwewereinhislife.So,theyevolve.Inotherwords,hislineage[i.e.pastexperience]wasthatofatrainedkiller,andsohehadaverydifficultsidetohim,andIknowwehelpedhimthislifetime.Inthedomesticatedanimalworldweareimportant.”

Mostofushavehadpetsinourlivesthatstandoutfromtherest.Eventhoughwelovedallofourpets,onemighthavebeenofspecialimportance.“So,Iwonderalsodowe,ashumanbeings,bringthatpetbackintoourlives?Idon’tknow,butitmakessensetome,especiallyifyou’vehadapetthatyouwereextremelyfondofandyou—justkneweachother.”

TheevidencefromclairvoyantslikeRobynandothersoverwhelminglyagreesthatanimals,aswellasplantsandperhapsevenminerals,dohaveauras.Animals’aurasarelessintricatethanthoseofhumans.Thatcorrespondswiththeirnatureswhicharemore“inthemoment”andlessintellectualandemotionalthanthoseofhumanbeings.Animalsarealsonotasindividualizedashumansandareoverseenbyagroupsoul—awisdomthatguidesspeciesbehavior.Ourpets’evolutionaryjourneysareaffectedbytheirinteractionswithuswhichhelpsthemtolearn,growandevolve.However,whenwepetourcatandhearitpurr,seeourdog’stailwagwhenweenteraroomandseethetrustandloveinourpets’eyes,don’twewonderwho’shelpingwhom?

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AFLOCKOFBIRdSTAKEOFFATdAWN.ALWAySASOURCEOFFASCINATION,FLOCKSSOMEHOWCOORdINATEINdIvIdUALLyTOWORKASAGROUP.ITISTHEGROUPSOULINACTION.


M yloveforelephantsstartedwithziggy.ziggy,borninAsiaaround1917,gothisnamefromFlorentzziegfield,avaudevilleproducer.In

1920,ziegfieldhadboughttheelephantfromJohnRingling,founderoftheRinglingCircus,asapresentforhissixyear-olddaughter.Afterziggytrampledthroughziegfield’sgreenhouse,ziggywassoldbacktoRinglingwhothensoldziggytoSinger’sMidgetCircus.ItwasherethatziggybondedwithamannamedCharlesBeckerandwastaughtmanyofthetricksthatanimalsaretaughtinperformancecircles,includingsmokingwhichaudiencesfoundamusing.Itwaswhileworkingwiththisparticularcircusthatziggywasconsidered“difficult.”

By1936,ziggywhowasovertenfeettallandweighedsixtonsaccordingtodifferentreports,wasboughtbytheBrookfieldzooinChicago.AtrainernameSlimLewiswasassignedtoziggy.In1941,whileziggywasgoingthroughamusthperiod(asurgeintestosteronelevelsthatleadtohighlyaggressivebehaviornotnecessarilyformating),heturnedonhistrainer,almostkillinghim.Lewispleadedforziggy’slifeandwon,butLewisleftthezooaftertheincident.Fornearlythirtyyears,ziggywaschainedtoawallinanindoorenclosureawayfromtheotherelephants.Hedidnotseesunlightuntil1970whenhewas“releasedfromhissentence,”asSaraJaneGoodyearfromtheChicagoTribunesorightlystated.Atthetime,acampaignwasstartedbythenewzoodirectortobuildziggyafacilitythatallowedhimfreeaccesstoandfromhisstallwithoutmuchhuman

contact.Itwascompletedin1971.InMarchof1975,ziggyfelleightfeetintoamoatthatseparatedhimfromthezoovisitors.Helaidtherefor31hours,injured,withlittlehumancontactuntilhewasabletolifthimselfup,climbupamakeshiftramp,andwalkbacktohisenclosure.HediedinOctoberthatyear.Hewas58.Almosthalfhislifewasspentchainedtoawall.

Irememberziggyandthechainwell.AndIrememberthinkingasaninnocentchildthatifsomeonecouldjustlovehimasmuchasIdid,hewouldnotneedtobechained.Hisaccidentandeventualdeathwasachildhoodmemorythathasnotleftme.ThestorystillmakesmetearfulbecausewhatIfeltasachild,Icanfinallyputintowordsasanadult.ziggywasachildwhenhewastakenfromhismother,shuffledfromoneplacetoanotherandnotreallywanted

orloved.Madetobehaveinamannerthatwasnotpartofhisnature,hewaseventuallypunishedandputinsolitaryconfinementbecausehewasdeemeda“bad”elephant.

Thankfully,wearelearningmoreaboutelephantswiththehopethatthroughresearchandeducation,wecaninformtheworldaboutthese

incrediblebeingsbeforewelosethejoyofseeingthemroamtheforestsandsavannahsofAfricaorthejunglesofAsia.AccordingtotheWorldWildlifeFund(WWF)therearearound470,000to690,000Africanelephantsand20,000to25,000Asianelephantsleftworldwide.TheWWFstatesthatlessthan20%oftheAfricanelephantpopulationisinprotectedareas,sothereisconstantlytheconcernof

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To Ziggy with love By ananya s. ra jan

FROM1972—STANdINGOUTINTHESUNAFTERNEARLy30yEARSINSIdE,zIGGyISRELEASEdFROMHISCONFININGQUARTERS.dESPITEHISNEWFREEdOM,HEISSTILLCHAINEd.

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poaching.Beforethebanningofivory,8elephantsanhour(70,000ayear)werekilledinAfrica.Between1979and1989theAfricanelephantpopulationwentfrom1.3millionelephantsto600,000.

Asmanypeopleknow,oneofthebiggestproblemsthatelephantsfaceasidefrompoachingisenvironment.Anadultelephantcaneatanywherefrom200to600poundsoffoodanddrinkupto50gallonsofwateraday.Accordingtoonesource,intheUS,itcosts$113,000ayeartofeedanelephant.Thismeansthattheyneedlandwheretheycangrazeandroam.Giventheirsize,foranelephanttobestillorstandinthesameplaceisnothealthy.Theirbody,likeanyanimal’s,needstomove.Whenforagingforfood,awildelephantmaytravelupto50miles.

Whenresearchinginformationforthisarticle,Iwassurprisedatthenumberoforganizationsthat

supporttheconservationofelephants,aswellasthenumberofstoriesaboutelephantsthataremakingnews.Manywebsitesdonotcomefromtheindigenousregionswherethemajorityofelephantslive.Onewebsite,www.elephants.se,isfromSwedenandworkstoprovideasmuchuptodateinformationaspossibleonelephants.Thoughnotparticularlyaesthetic,thewebsitehasadatabasethatkeepstrackofthenumberofbabyelephantsbornintheworld.TheyalsohaveaFacebookpage“ElephantEncyclopedia”whichhasasolidfollowing.AnothergoodwebsiteistheNationalElephantCenter

www.nationalelephantcenter.org,anon-profitinFlorida“managedbyaboardofaccreditedzoodirectors,wildlifeadvocatesandconservationistsnationwide.”TheNationalElephantCenterhousesthreeelephantson225acresoflandwithplanstoincreasetheirpopulationandstaff.Theirwebsitestatesthatnothinglikewhattheyareplanninghasbeencreatedbefore,butTheElephantSanctuary(TES)www.elephants.cominHohenwald,Tennesseeisthelargestnaturalhabitatrefugeforelephantsusing2700acresandhousingtenAsianelephantsandtwoAfricanones.AsageneralruletheElephantSanctuaryhousesonlyfemales.Toprovidesanctuaryformaleelephantswouldmeancreatinganentirelydifferentfacilitytoaccommodatetheirneeds.

Withinthelasttwentyyears,theemotionalintelligenceoftheelephanthasbeenatopicofstudy.ContrarytoSimonandGarfunkel’slineaboutelephantsbeing“kindlybuttheirdumb”intheirsong“Atthezoo,”elephantsarefarfromstupid.Interestingly,thistendstobeaWesternbias.ManypeoplewholiveinAsiaandAfricahavealwaysconsideredelephantstobeoneofthemostintelligentcreaturesontheplanet.InIndia,whenapersonhasagoodmemory,theyaresaidtohavethememoryofanelephantbecauseelephantsdonotforget.Elephantshavebeenknowntorememberapersontheyhaven’tseenindecadesaswellaswhethertherelationshipwiththatpersonwasapositiveornegativeexperience.Theyalsorememberotherelephantstheyhadbondedwithasbabiesoradolescentsbutfromwhomtheywereseparated.Oneofthemostheartwarming(andtear-jerking)youTubevideosisthereunionofShirleyandJennyattheElephantSanctuaryafteraseparationofover20years.

Asmanypeopleknow,elephantsarematriarchal.WithAfricanelephants,herdsaremadeupofabout10individuals,butfamilyclanscanform,bringingasmanyas70elephantstogether.This,accordingtoWWF,istypicalforthesavannahelephants.Herdsaresmallerfortheforestelephants.Asianelephantherdsareoftensmallerinsizeaswellwithjust6or7individualelephantstoaherd.Forbothspecies,thebirthofalittleoneisaherdevent.Thebabywillnormallystayclosetoitsmother,butwillbecaredforand

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ANAFRICANELEPHANTFAMILyROAMSTHESAvANNA.AFRICANELEPHANTSAREdISTINGUISHEdFROMASIANELEPHANTSByTHEIRTUSKSANdTHEIRLONGEREARS.

Elephants, like humans, have great affection

for their young and one another. They also

grieve the loss of people, elephant friends,

and other animals.


protectedbyalltheelephantsoftheherd.Itmayevennursefromanothercowelephantifitsmotherisnotavailable.

Malebabyelephantsgenerallystaywiththeirmothersandtheherduntiltheyreachpubertywhich,likeahuman,isanywherebetween12-15yearsofage.Theywillleavetheherdtofindamateandexplorelifeontheirownmakingthetransitionfromtheirherdquitefluid.Malesaregenerallynotbigenoughtocompeteforafemaleuntiltheyareabout20yearsold.

Oneofthebiggestconcernsfacingelephantsincaptivityistheirdecreaseinlifespan.Researchers,commissionedbytheRoyalSocietyforthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimals(RSPCA),wantedtodeterminescientificallyifelephantsincaptivityreallydidnotlivelongerthantheircounterpartswholivedinthewild.Afterasixyearstudy,itwasfoundthatthelifeexpectancyofanelephantinazoowasoftencutinhalfwhenborn,bred,orcapturedandplacedinazoo.Thereasonsstatedwereobesityandstress.Keptinunnaturalsurroundingsandunabletogettheexercisetheyneed,suchcircumstanceswearonthesegentlegiants,emotionallyandphysically.

dr.GayBradshaw,thefounderandexecutivedirectoroftheKerulosCenter,startedthefieldof“trans-speciespsychology”throughherstudyofwildelephantswhosufferfromsymptomssimilartowhatwouldbedeemedpost-traumaticstressdisorder(PTSd)inahuman.In2009,shewrotethebookElephants on the Edge: What Animals Teach Us about Humanity,comparingtraumaticsituationshumansfacewithtraumaticsituationselephantsface.Thereactionsofthetwospecieswerethesame.PublishersWeekly’sreviewofherbooksumsuptheargumentperfectly,“Intheend,anthropomorphizingisn’ttheissue;Bradshawsaysthatinsteadofgivinganimalshumanfeelings,weshouldobservethattheyhavefeelingsthatcorrelatewithwhatwemayfeelinsimilarcircumstances.Withitsheartbreakingfindingsandirrefutableconclusions,thisbookbearscarefulreadingandconsideration.”

Asresearcherscontinuetostudythesemagnificentcreatures,sciencecontinuestoprovewhatmanyanimalloversknewallalong:elephants,aswellasmanyotheranimals,havefeelings,emotions,andarereallynotallthatdifferentfromhumanbeings.AsachildIknewthisaboutziggybecausetomeheseemedwithdrawnandsad.Tomeitseemedlikehewasnotloved.Elephants,likehumans,havegreataffectionfortheiryoungandoneanother.Theyalsogrievethelossofpeople,elephantfriends,andotheranimals.AwebsitefromSouthAfricacalledElephantsForeverwww.elephantsforever.co.zaprovidesstoriesthat

showthebraveryandcompassionelephantshavedisplayedtohumansaswellasotheranimalsovertheyears:suchasanelephantfightingtosaveababyrhinowhilethemotherrhinocontinuesattackingtheelephant;andaforestelephantrefusingtodropaloginaholewhereasleepingdoglies;andanelephantthatcomestotherescueofarancherwhoisinjuredbythematriarch.Suchstoriesseemincredible,buttheyaretrue.

WhenIwasfirstintroducedtoTheElephantSanctuarywebsite,Icouldnotstopwatchingthevideos.AndIencourageyoutodothesame.TES,throughtheirvideos,caregivers’reports,andEleCamsdoawonderfuljobofallowingthepublictowitnessthecompassionandjoythe“Girls”bringtooneanotherandtheirstaff.Manysanctuariesnownolongerallowthepublicto“visit”theelephants,andrightlyso.Howmanyofuslikebeingondisplay?Fortheelephantsitisnodifferentandafterwhattheyhavegonethrough,itistimeweallowedthemtobewhotheyareandliveinaworldthatisharmonious,safe,andloving.Afterall,isn’tthattheworldweourselvesdesiretolivein?

UNLIKETHEIRAFRICANSISTERSANdTHEIRMALECOUNTERPARTS,FEMALEASIANELEPHANTSdONOTNORMALLyGROWTUSKS.THEyMAyGROW“TUSHES,”WHICHAREONLyvISIBLEWHENTHEMOUTHISOPEN.

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tarraTarraisanAsianelephantwhowasborninBurma(Myanmar)in1974.Attheyoungageofsixmonths,shewastakenfromhermotherandsoldtoananimalbroker.Cratedandflownbycargoplane,shewasimportedtotheUS,whereshewaskeptinthebackofadeliverytruckduringthedayandonaresidentialdrivewayatnight.Eventually,shebecameasourceofentertainmentforthezoosandcircuses,asmanyelephantsare,evenlearningtorollerskate,andspentovertwenty-yearsasanelephantonexhibit.Thiseventuallycametoanendin1995whenshewasretiredfromthepublicandallowedtolivethelifeofanelephantatTheSanctuary.

TarramayringafewbellsforsomeofourreadersassheandherbestfriendBellawerefeaturedonaCBSnewssegmentin2009.Bella,forthosewhodon’tknow,wasamixedbreeddog,whotookrefugeonSanctuarylandandbecameTarra’srighthandpup.WhereverTarrawas,Bellawasnotfarbehind.Thetwowereoftenfoundroamingthelandtogetherorjustenjoyingabeautifuldayinthesun.Watchingvideosofthetwoteachesusthatwedon’tnecessarilyhavetospeakthesamelanguagetohavealovingrelationshipwithsomeone.

In2011,Bellawasattackedbycoyotes.Herbodywasfoundbystaffoutsideoftheiroffice.WhilenoonebutTarraknowswhathappened,itisknownthatwhereBella’sbodylaidwasnotwhereshewasattacked.Tarra,

however,wasfoundwithbloodontheundersideofhertrunk.StaffbelievedshecarriedBellatoaplaceneartheofficesotheywouldfindher.Likeanyonewholosesadearfriend,Tarrashowedsignsofdeepmourning.HerSanctuarysistersprovidedsupportbystayingcloseby,andcomfort,attimessharingtheirfoodwithher,tohelpherthroughherdifficultperiod.

TodayTarra,TheSanctuary’s“FoundingElephant,”continueshermatriarchaldutiesatTheSanctuary,greetingnewlyarrivedelephantsandbeingasourceofcomfortandgentleleadershiptohersisters.

sHirLEyBornin1948,Shirleyturns66yearsoldthisyear.(TheSanctuaryrecognizesherbirthdayinJuly,themonthshearrivedathernewhome.)SheistheoldestelephantatTheSanctuary.This

isquiteremarkableconsideringthedifficultlifeShirleyhashad.BorninSumatra,shewascapturedin1953.In1963,thecircusshipthatShirleywasoncaughtfireandsank.Luckilyshewasrescued,butsufferedburnstoherears,headandback.Afterthefire,sheandthetwootherelephantswhosurvivedtheshipwreck,wereputintrailersandtransportedtoCaliforniawherethecircusownerslived.duringthedrive,thetrailermetwithanaccidentandallthreepachydermswerethoughtdead.Shirleysurvived.Shecontinuedinthecircusesandin1977wasattackedbyabullelephantthatseverelyinjuredher,breakingherhindleg.Shirley’slegneverhealedproperlysoshecontinuestowalkwithalimp.ShirleyeventuallywassoldtotheLouisianazoo,herhomeforthenexttwenty-twoyears.Asshewastheonlyelephantatthezoo,herlife

Meet the girls! By ananya s. ra jan

A hearty thank you goes out to the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee who was kind enough to give permission for us to use photos and stories of some of their family members. The TES is a non-profit organization that provides refuge and individualized care to rescued elephants in the US.

SHIRLEy(L)ANdTARRA(R)AREOFTENFOUNdSHARINGSECRETSORPROvIdINGCOMPANyTOONEANOTHER.

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wasratherlonely.In1999,shewasretiredtoTheSanctuarywhereshewasgreetedbyheroldfriendJenny.Asmentionedearlier,thereunionisonethatneedstobewatched.CaretakerswereuncertainhowShirleywouldreacttoseeinganotherelephantaftertwenty-twoyears.Towitnessthereunionremindsusthatweallneedcompanionship.

jEnnyJennywasbornin1969inSumatraandcapturedin1973.ItmusthavebeenwhileworkingfortheCarsonandBarnesCircusthatJennymetShirley,whoJennywouldhavelookedtoasamotherfigure.Jenny’sstorymuchlikeShirley’sisoneofabuseandneglect.Shespentmostofherlifeperformingincircusesandwasconsidered“useless”bythetimeshewas24becauseshecouldnotbebred.Inanattempttobreedher,Jenny’slegwasbrokenbyabullelephant.Itwasnottreatedandshewalkedwithalimp.Consideredworthlessbyherowners,shewasdroppedoffatananimalshelterthattookindogsandcats,butpickedupbyanewowner,whosadlywasunabletoproperly

careforher.Thankfully,theownercontactedTheElephantSanctuaryandarescuefundwasstartedtogetJennyhome.ShearrivedinTennesseein1996,underweightwithfootrotandfeelingincrediblytimidandunsure,untilTarraletherknowshewassafeandwelcomed.Jennypassedawayin2006afteralongillnesssurroundedbyTarra,Shirley,andanotherfriendBunnywhoalsoarrivedin1999,thesameyearasShirley.

BunnydespitethebondthatShirleyandJennyhadwithoneanother,theylovinglywelcomedBunnyandformedatrio.Bornin1952inBurma(Myanmar),shewascapturedattheageoftwoandtransported

totheMeskerzooinEvansville,Indiana.Shelivedmostlyaloneinthezooforover40years.Asmentionedearlier,elephantshavesensitivefeetandbeingconfinedtostandingonconcreteunabletomovecreatesotherhealthproblemsforthesebeautifulcreatures.ThezoorealizedtheirloveforBunnymeantsettingherfreeandshearrivedattheSanctuaryinSeptemberof1999.

Bunnywasknownasthe“OutdoorGirl”becauseonceattheSanctuary,shelovedbeingoutsideallthetime.AccordingtothestaffattheSanctuary,Bunnyenjoyedherfreedomsomuchshewassometimesdifficulttofindwhenitwasfeedingtime.Itapparentlydidnottakeherlongtoadjusttohernewfoundfreedomasshewasheardcheerfullytrumpetingthroughthegrounds,statingherjoyandapprovalofhernewlife.

After10yearsofenjoyingherfreedom,Bunnytransitionedtoevenfreergroundsin2009attheageof58.BeingtheOutdoorGirl,shelaiddownoutsideunderthebluesky,surroundedbyhercaretakerandsisterswhokeptvigil.TheSanctuaryhonorsthenaturalcycleofthings,soBunnywaskeptcomfortableandprotectedsonaturecoulddowhatitneeded.Whenhertimecame,shetooktwolongbreathsandquietlyslippedaway.Whilethedeathofanyanimalissad,thebeautyofBunny’sdeathwasthatTheSanctuarygaveherachanceshemaynothavegottenotherwise,thechancetopassawayfromnaturalcauses.

BUNNy,THEOUTdOORGIRL,PICTUREdHEREAdMIRINGTHELAKEATHERTENNESSEEHOME.

SHIRLEy(L)ANdJENNyWEREOFTENPLAyFULWITHONEANOTHER.THISPHOTOSHOWSSHIRLEy’SHINdLEGTHATdIdNOTHEALPROPERLy.

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on service animals By nancy sEcrEst

L ionsandtigersandbears?Ohmyno,buthowaboutdogs,cats,horses,birdsandmonkeys?Guidedogsfortheblindusedtobetheonlyserviceanimalswe

eversaw.TheseGermanShepherds,andtheywerealwaysGermanShepherds,seemedtobetherockstarsofthedogworld,sosmart,so“I’vegotitundercontrol,”sointunewiththeirmasters.Thingshavechanged.Guidesarestilldogs,butotherbreeds,mainlyLabs,havebeenaddedtothemixashaveguidehorses.yes,horses.Inrecentyears,miniaturehorseshavebeentrainedasguidesfortheblind.Theyalsopullwheelchairsandactasasourceofstabilityforthosewithmobilityissues.Otherkindsofanimalshavealsobeentrainedtoassistwithvariousdisabilities.WenowhaveHearingEardogs,seizurealertanimals,animalsthatpreventordisruptdestructivebehaviorsandthosethatgiveemotionalsupport.TrainedCapuchinmonkeysnowaidadultswithspinalcordinjuriesandothermobilityimpairmentsbyactingasapairofhelpinghandstoperformtasksthattheindividualscannotdoforthemselves.Otheranimalhelpersincludesmallbreeddogs,cats,andbirds.TheAmericanswithdisabilitiesAct(AdA)suppliestheofficialdefinitionof“serviceanimals”andrecognizesonlydogsinthiscapacity.

Emotionalorpsychiatricsupport,therapyorcompanionanimalsarelabelsthatdescribethetasksperformedbysomeanimalsthat,whilenotrecognizedassuchbytheAdA,areoftencalled“serviceanimals”bythegeneralpublic.Thetitle“companionanimal”doesnotfallunderlegaldefinitions,andisgenerallyacceptedasanothertermforpet.Forthepurposesofthisarticle,theterm“serviceanimal”ismeanttoincludeallsuchanimals,aswellasservicedogs,unlessspecificallynotedotherwise.

Anemotionalsupportanimalprovidesaffectionandcompanionshipforapersonsufferingfromvariousmentalandemotionalconditionssuchasanxiety,depression,panicattacks,PTSd,fears/phobiasandotherconditions.Thereisnorequirementforanemotionalsupportanimaltoperformanyspecifictasksfordisabilityasthereiswithaservicedogandnospecifictrainingisrequired.Theseanimalsaremeantsolelyfortheemotionalstabilityoftheirowners.WhileemotionalsupportanimalsarenotincludedundertheprotectionsoftheAdA,theFairHousingAmendmentsAct(FHAA)givesindividualstherighttolivewiththeiremotionalsupportanimalregardlessofanybuildingorresidence“nopet”policy,andtheAirCarrierAccessAct

(ACAA)allowsemotionalsupportanimalsonairplaneswhendisabledindividualsaretraveling.Sometrains,buses,andtaxisalsoallowserviceanimalsaboard.

Therapyanimalsneedtobecalmandwell-behavedastheyaretakenmanyplaces,includinghospitals,nursinghomes,fosterhomes,homelessshelters,schoolsandplacesstruckbynaturaldisasters,wheretheyworkwiththeirhandlerstoprovideservicestoothers.Therapyanimalsworkwithgroupsratherthanindividualsbringingcomfortandjoytothosewhoareillorlivingunderpoorconditions.Again,theydonotneedanyspecifictrainingandarewelcomedatmanysuchfacilitieswithpermission.

Collectively,alloftheseanimalsarecommonlyreferredtoasserviceanimals,butthedefinitionofaserviceanimalaccordingtotheAdAisrestrictedtodogswhoaretrainedtodoworkorperformtasksdirectlyrelatedtoanindividual’sdisability.Thismeansthatthedogmustbetrainedtorespondtothespecialneedsofaspecificpersoncausedbytheirspecificdisability.Thisshutsoutemotionalsupportandtherapyanimals,eveniftheyaredogs,becausetheseanimalsdonotperformspecifictasksrelatedtospecificdisabilitiesor,inthecaseoftherapyanimals,becausetheyworkwithgroupsofpeopleratherthanindividuals.TheAdAalsorequiresthatserviceanimalsbeallowedintogovernmentandcommercialbuildingsopentothepublic.In2010,theAdAexpandedthisrulingtoincludeminiaturehorses(ataheightof26”to38”tallminiaturehorsesareaboutthesamesizeasalargedog),aswellasdogs.TheselimitsplacedbytheAdAhavecausedproblemsforsomewithdisabilitieswhoneedorpreferanotherkindofserviceanimal.ThroughtheyearsvariouscourtcaseshavebeenfiledinanattempttochangetheAdA’sdefinitionofserviceanimal.Sofar,theonlychangeshavebeenatighteningofthedefinitiontospecificallyexclude“otherspeciesof

The Seeing Eye, the first US guide dog

school opened its doors in 1929 and is now

the oldest existing guide dog school in the

world. In the 1970s, the concept expanded

to the use of “service” dogs…


animals”andtoaddminiaturehorsestodogsasthosethatmustbeallowedinpublicbuildingsandonpublictransportationfromwhichotheranimalsmaybebarred.AppealstotheAdAfortheexpansionofits“serviceanimal”definitioncontinue,anddebateoverthesuitabilityofcertainspecies,suchasmonkeys,forthisstatushasraisedethicalandhumanitarianissues.

Somestatesandlocalitieshavesettheirownrulesforserviceanimals,expandingthedefinitiontoincludeotherspeciesbesidesdogs,includingemotionalsupportandtherapyanimals,and,insomecases,requiringorsuggestingcertificationoftheseanimals.Toqualifyasaserviceanimal,pertheAdA,adogdoesnothavetobeprofessionallytrainednordoesithavetobecertifiedorlicensed.However,withsomestatesrequiringcertification,certifyingopportunitiesaboundonthewebandelsewhere.Otherstatesandlocalitiesrequirethatthepersonsimplyhaveadoctor’sletterattestingtotheirneedforaserviceanimalinorderfortheanimaltobeallowedintotheirgovernmentofficesandcommercialestablishmentsandontopublictransportation.Insomecases,specificbusinessesfollowpracticesthatallowserviceanimalsotherthandogsontheirpremises.Ofcourse,inallcases,theanimalsmustbeunderthecontroloftheirownersandnotcauseadisturbance.

Justassomepeopleunlawfullyparkinhandicappedspaces,somepetownerswhoarenotdisabled,butsimplywanttoenterbusinessesorrideonpublictransportationwiththeirpetorcompanionanimal,dosounderpretense.PertheU.S.departmentofJustice,CivilRightsdivision’sinstructionstobusinessowners,“Ifyouarenotcertainthatananimalisaserviceanimal,youmayaskthepersonwhohastheanimalifitisaserviceanimalrequiredbecauseofadisability.youmaynotinsistonproofofstatecertificationbeforepermittingtheserviceanimaltoaccompanythepersonwithadisability.”Apetowner,pretendingthattheirpetisaserviceanimal,wholiesinanswertothisquestioncaneasilygetawaywithitsincenoproofisrequired.ThisunscrupulousmanipulationoflawswrittentoprotecttherightsofthedisabledhasthepotentialtohurtthecauseofthosewhoaretryingtogettheiremotionalsupportanimalsrecognizedbytheAdAortheirstate.

GuiDE anD sErvicE DOGs TheconceptofusingdogstohelptheblindreallybeganwhenveteransstartedusingguidedogsafterWorldWarI.Today,America’svetdogs,anonprofitorganization,callsitself“Thepremierorganizationprovidingassistancedogs

todisabledveteransandactiveservicemembers.”TheveryfirstformalschoolforservicedogswasestablishedinGermany.TheSeeingEye,thefirstUSguidedogschool,openeditsdoorsin1929andisnowtheoldestexistingguidedogschoolintheworld.Inthe1970s,theconceptexpandedtotheuseof“service”dogs,ratherthanjust“guide”dogsinordertoassistindividualswithvariousdisabilities.Nowservicedogs,andotheranimals,guidethevisuallyimpaired,alertthehearingimpairedtointrudersorsounds,provideprotectionorrescuework,pullwheelchairsandfetchdroppeditemsfortheirownersamongmanyothertasks.

Aguidedog’strainingbeginsinpuppyhoodaccordingtoServicedogCentral,acommunityofservicedogpartnersandtrainers.Puppiesdestinedtobecomeguidedogsareplacedwithfamilieswholoveandnurturethepuppy,teachitgoodmanners,socializationskillsandbasicobedience.Whenthepuppyisaboutayeartoeighteenmonthsolditgoesofftoschool.Attheguidedogschool,thedoglearnsdirectedguiding,obstacleavoidanceandintelligentdisobedience.directedguidingteachesthedogtheproperresponsestothecommonlyusedcommands.Throughintelligentdisobedienceadoglearnstodisobeythecommandsofitsownerifadangerthattheownercannotseeispresent,suchasamovingcarinhisorherpath.Obstacleavoidanceisthetrickiestandmostimportantlessonthedoghastolearn.Thedogmustlearntorecognizeanobstacle,evenifitisoverhead,anddecidehowbesttogoarounditwhilepreservingitsanditsowner’ssafety.

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Thedisabledpersonmustalsobetrainedhowtocommandandhandlethedog.Thetwoarethenpairedtolearnhowtoworktogether.Itcosts$50,000to$60,000totrainaguidedog.However,America’svetdogsprovidesthedogsfreetodisabledveterans,andTheSeeingEyeguidedogschoolchargesonly$150fortheowner’sfirstdogand$50foreachconsecutiveguidedogthatmaybeneeded.

MiniaturE HOrsEsTheGuideHorseFoundationwasfoundedin1999asanexperimentalprogramtoassesstheabilitiesofminiaturehorsesasassistanceanimals.TheFoundationclaims,“Therearemanycompellingreasonstouseminiaturehorsesasguideanimals.Horsesarenaturalguideanimalsandhavebeenguidinghumansforcenturies.Innature,horseshavebeenshowntopossessanaturalguideinstinct.Whenanotherhorsegoesblindinaherd,asightedhorseacceptsresponsibilityforthewelfareoftheblindhorseandguidesitwiththeherd.Throughouthistory,Cavalryhorseshavebeenknowntoguidetheirinjuredridertosafety.”

Whywouldsomeonepreferaguidehorsetoaguidedog?Well,somepeoplearesimplyhorselovers,othersfeardogsorareallergictothem.Stillotherspreferahorse’scalmnatureorneedtheirstrengthtopulltheirwheelchairorprovidethesupportneededforthemtorisefromtheirchair.Horseslivelongerthandogs.Thelifespanoftheaverageguidedogisfromeighttotwelveyears,whileahorselivesbetweenthirtyandfortyyearsormore.Mostvisuallyimpairedpeoplewilloutlivethreeorfourguidedogs.Therefore,anotherreasongivenforthechoiceofahorseisthatitsavesthepersonfromhavingtorepeatedlysufferthroughthedeathofalovedanimal.Italsosavesthetime,energyandtrainingcostsofreplacementguidedogstherebymakingitlessexpensiveinthelongruntotrain

miniaturehorsesasguidesthantotraindogs.TheGuideHorseFoundationtrainsguidehorses

anddeliversthemfree-of-chargetovisuallyimpairedindividuals.Miniaturehorsesreceivethesametypeoftrainingasguidedogsindirectedguiding,obstacleavoidanceandintelligentdisobedience,and,accordingtotheFoundation,“Guidehorsesalsoundergothesametrainingthatisgiventoriot-controlhorsesmakingthemlesslikelytobedistractedandcalmerinchaoticsituations.”ThetrainingendswiththehorsebeinghousebrokenwhichisnecessarypertheAdAifthehorseistobeallowedintopublicestablishments.

Somefolksobjecttousinghorsesasguidesonthegroundsthattheyrequirespecialcareandhousing.However,inherarticle“MiniaturehorsesgetOKtobeserviceanimals,”SueManningoftheAssociatedPress,quotedMonaRamouniwhosaid,“Asmuchworkassheis—andsheisalotmoreworkthanadog—Iwouldnottradeherfor10dogs.”Ms.Manningtellsusthat“Ramouniwentblindshortlyafterbirth.Growingupindetroit,shecouldnothaveadogbecauseherdevoutMuslimfamilyconsideredthemunclean.”

sErvicE catsAnotheranimalnewtotheofficial“serviceanimal”sceneisthecat.Catshavelongbeenrecognizedasgivingcomforttotheirowners.Pettingtheirsoftfurandlisteningtothempurriscalmingandrelaxing.Catloverswouldagreethattheircatswithouteventryingprovideemotionalsupport.Studieshaveshownthatstrokingacatdecreasesbloodpressure,andthatthecalminginfluenceofacatcanextendthelifeofapersonwithheartproblems.Thisisnotasourceofcontroversy.Butaretheyserviceanimals?TheAdAsaysthatthetasksaserviceanimalperformsmustbespecificandaidwithanindividualperson’sspecificdisability.Somecatshaveshownanaturalabilitytoalerttheirownersofanimpendingseizureortoalertadiabeticownerofadropinhisorherbloodsugarlevelanddosowithouttraining.Thiscertainlyqualifiesasspecificbehaviorforaspecificdisability.Severalstatesdocertifyseizurecatsanddiabeticalertcatsasserviceanimalswhichallowsthecattoaccompanyitsownerintorestaurantsandotherpublicvenuesandontopublictransportation.

AccordingtoItchmo:Newsfordogs&Cats,atwww.itchmo.com,“Thereisnoorganizationthattrainsservicecats.”However,itisfeltbysomeorganizationslikethePetsandPeopleFoundationthattheycanbetrained.“PetsandPeopleprovideshelpforpeoplethatwanttotraintheirown

service animals CONTINUEdFROMPAGE15

We appreciate and applaud these animals

and the services they provide, but there

is controversy. Dogs and cats have been

domesticated for centuries and have long

become used to living with humans.


cats…startingwithakittenisbest.Usingclickertraining,acatcanbetaughttoalertthearrivalofaseizure.Cats,justlikedogs,haveaninnatesenseofwhenseizuresarecoming.Kittenscanalsobetaughttouseatelephonewhentheownerisunabletocallforhelp.”And,“Toalertyouthecatmaypawatyouorsitonyourchest.”

BirDs as sErvicE aniMaLsAnarticleintheJanuary2009New York Times MagazinebyRebeccaSklootentitled“CreatureComforts”talksaboutamaninSt.Louiswhousesanassistantparrottohelpcontrolhispsychotictendencies.Indescribinghiscondition,hesaid,“It’slikewhentheIncredibleHulkchangesfrommantomonster.Hisvisionblurs,hisbodytinglesandhecanbarelyhear.”Theparrotkeepshimfromsnapping.Sheridesaroundonhisback,andwhenhegetsupsetshecalmshimdownbytalkingtohim.Shesaysthingslike,“It’sOK,calmdown,you’reallright,”and“I’mhere.”Thebird’strainingwasunintentional.Sometimes,whenhegotupsetathome,themanwouldtrytocalmhimselfdownusingthosephrases.Theparrotpickeditup,andthemanbeganrewardinghereachtimeithappened.Hehashadonlyoneincidentsincetheparrotbeganrecognizinghischangeinbehaviorandworkstocalmhimdown.

MOnkEys as sErvicE aniMaLsItiseasytoseewhythehuman-likehandsofamonkeymightmakeitadesirableserviceanimalforpersonswithspinalcordorothermobilityinjuriesthatleavethemwith

limitedornouseoftheirhands.Monkeys,likehumans,canreachforthings,turnonlights,openbottlesorothercontainers,pickupdroppedobjects,learntodial911,operateamicrowaveandmanyothertasksforwhichhandsarehelpfulorevennecessary.Monkeysalsoappearandactsomuchlikelittlepeoplethatthebondoremotionalconnectioncreatedbetweenamonkeyanditshumanownercanbeakintothatwithalittlebrotherorsister.AviralvideobyThe Boston Globeshowsthisconnection.ItfeaturesNedSullivanwhounderwentatraumaticneckandbrainaccident.Hehasrecoveredsomespeechandmovement,butstillneedshelp.Kasey,aCapuchinmonkeyprovidesthehelpinghandsthatNedneedsaswellasemotionalsupport.

KaseywastrainedatHelpingHandsanon-profitorganizationthathastrainedCapuchinmonkeyssince1979toassistadultswithspinalcordinjuries.PerHelpingHandswebsite,ittakesthreetofiveyearstotrainamonkeyatseveraldifferentandincreasinglycomplexlevels.Thetrainingenvironmentalsobecomesmoreandmorehome-likethroughoutthelevelsinordertopreparethemonkeyforlifeintherecipient’shome.Whileintraining,monkeysarealsopottytrained.“Whentheygraduatetheycanaccomplishmanytasks,arecomfortableworkingwithhouseholditemslikerefrigerators,Cdplayersandtelevisions,andarefamiliarwithmanualandelectricwheelchairs.”Upongraduation,themonkeysaregivenfreeofchargetotherecipientswithwhomtheyhavebeenmatched.

Monkeysareamongthemostcontestedassistance-animalspecies.TheAdAdoesnotrecognizemonkeysasserviceanimals,butsomestatesdo.AbillrecentlyintroducedintotheKentuckylegislaturethatwouldrecognizemonkeysasserviceanimalsforin-homeuse,sparkedcontroversy.Criticsofthebill,includingtheNorthAmericanPrimateSanctuaryAlliance,feelthat,asun-domesticatedanimals,monkeysareneithersuitablenordesirabletoworkashumanhelpers.Theysay,“Monkeysdonotbelonginhumanhomes,whetheraspetsorserviceanimals.”

Criticspointoutthatmonkeysareunpredictableandcancausehavocifdistressedandperhapseveninjurytotheirhumanhandlers.Theypointoutthatwhiledogsandhorseshavebeendomesticatedforcenturies,monkeysarestillferal.Calmbehaviorandgoodjudgmentcannotberelieduponfrommonkeysastheyareanimalsthatdonotreactwellinchaoticsituations.

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detractorsalsosaythatlivinginhumanhomespreventsmonkeysfromthenaturalsocializationwiththeirownkindthattheyneed.PerFox News First Newsletter, January21,2014.“AprilTruitt,founderandexecutivedirectorofthePrimateRescueCenter,basedinNicholasvilleincentralKentucky,saidthebilliswellintentionedbutmisguided.Shesaiditcouldexposebothmonkeysandtheirhumanowners

topotentialharm.‘Monkeysarenotdomesticatedanimals,’shesaid.‘Theycannotbemadesoinonegenerationorin20’.”InanABCNewsinterviewbyGillianMohney,January18,2014,“Truittpointsoutthatthemonkeyshavealltheirteethremovedbeforebeingusedinahome,andthattheycanturnontheirownersviolently.”Thisactionmightservetoprotectpeople,butseemscruelandinhumanetreatmentofmonkeys.Whiletheuseofmonkeysasassistantsmayprovideawonderfulbenefittothosewithspinalcordinjuries,thepracticecausesanethicaldilemmabetweenthebenefittodisabledpersonsandthenaturalneeds,rightsandhumanetreatmentoftheseanimalsthathasyettoberesolved.

Whetherabirdthatalertsitsownertoapendingpsychoticbreak,acatthatsensesanon-comingseizure,a

monkeywhosehelpinghandsassistaparalyzedperson,ahearingearanimaloraguidedogorhorse,theseanimalsarevaluedbythosetheyserveandtheirabilitiesamazetherestofus.Weappreciateandapplaudtheseanimalsandtheservicestheyprovide,butthereiscontroversy.dogsandcatshavebeendomesticatedforcenturiesandhavelongbecomeusedtolivingwithhumans.Whetherserviceanimalsorpets,mostarewelltreated,andfewpeoplewouldregardtheiremploymentasserviceanimalsasbeingdetrimentaltotheirwell-being.

Horsesmayfarebestinaruralenvironment,butsomefeelthatminiaturehorsesusedasguidescanadapttoanurbansettingaslongastheyhaveastalltoretreattoandroomtoroamwhenoff-duty.Others,sometheosophistsamongthem,whoobjecttoeventheridingofhorses,wouldseetheuseofhorsesasconfiningandunnatural.Apparently,theAdAdisagreeswiththisviewasminiaturehorsesaretheonlyanimals,besidesdogs,thattheyrequirebeallowedaccesstogovernmentalandcommercialestablishments.

However,birdslikeparrots,andespeciallymonkeys,arewildanimals.Cantheycopewithlivinginhomes?doestheirservicetousoutweightheirright,andperhapsneed,toliveintheirnaturalenvironments?doesthecomplextrainingofmonkeysandthepullingoftheirteethtoprotecthumansimpingeontheirrightsasfreecreaturesandperhapsevenborderoncruelty?dotheyposeadangertothehumanstheyserve?Thesequestionshaveyettobeanswered.

Asaserviceorganization,theTheosophicalOrderofService(TOS)recognizesandsupportstherightsofdisabledpersonstowhateveraidstheyneedtohelpthemliveasnormallyaspossible,includingserviceanimals.Astheosophists,theTOSsupportstheonenessofalllifeandthuscomesdownheavilyonthesideofanimals’rightstoliveafulllifeintheirnaturalordomesticatedhabitats,freeofhuman-imposedstressesandcruelty.Whenitcomestomonkeys,andperhapsbirds,wewonderifitiswiseandhumanetousetheseanimalsasserviceanimals.

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CAPUCHINMONKEySAREOFTENUSEdASSERvICEANIMALSANdKEPTASPETSdESPITEMUCHdEBATE.WHILETRAINABLEACCORdINGTOHELPINGHANdS,WILdLIFEExPERTSdISAGREESAyINGTHEyAREWILdCREATURESTHATCANTURNONTHEIROWNERS.MANyPETOWNERSHAvETHEANIMAL’STEETHREMOvEd.


do animals have rights? By MOrry sEcrEst

Alargepercentageoftheworld’spopulationbelievesanimalshaverights.Certainly

mostpetownersthinkso.Manyfolkstreattheirpetsjustastheywouldtheirchildren.Forboth,theywillinglyprovidefood,water,shelter,aswellasattention,love,support,andmedicalcare.

Mostfarmersandranchersalsoagree,toapoint.Aslongasitenhancestheirprofit,theywillinglyprovidethebasicnecessitiesandarerequiredtoprovidemedicalcaretotheirlivestock.

Butwhataboutthegorillasandchimpanzeeswhoresemblehumansmostclosely?

TheUnitedStatesisoneofthefewcivilizedcountriesthatstillallowmedicalresearchonagroupofmammalswhosegeneticmakeupcloselyresemblesthatofhumans,thegreatapes.TheUnitedStatesistheworld’slargestuserofchimpanzeesforbiomedicalresearchandhas937individualsubjectscurrentlyinU.S.labs.This,eventhoughtheInstituteofMedicine(IOM)www.iom.eduhasdeterminedthattheuseofchimpanzeesinmedicalresearchislargelyunnecessary,duetotheadvancementsinalternateresearchtools.

TheInstituteofMedicineisanAmericannon-profit,non-governmentalorganizationfoundedin1970,underthecongressionalcharteroftheNationalAcademyofSciences.ItispartoftheUnitedStatesNationalAcademies,whichalsoincludestheNationalAcademyofSciences(NAS),NationalAcademyofEngineering(NAE),andtheNationalResearchCouncil(NRC).

Itspurposeistoprovidenationaladviceonissuesrelatingtobiomedical

science,medicine,andhealth,anditsmissionistoserveasadvisertothenationtoimprovehealth.ItworksoutsidetheframeworkoftheU.S.federalgovernmenttoprovideindependentguidanceandanalysisandreliesonavolunteerworkforceofscientistsandotherexperts,operatingunderaformalpeer-reviewsystem.

TheInstituteaimstoprovideunbiased,evidence-based,andauthoritativeinformationandadviceconcerninghealthandsciencepolicytopolicy-makers,professionals,leadersineverysectorofsociety,andthepublicatlarge.

EffortsbyIOMandothersareslowlybearingfruit.Officialsaregraduallyrecognizingthatanimalsdeservesomefundamentalrights.Justrecently,ninebaboonspreviouslyusedforscientificexperimentswereretiredfromthatduty.TheyhavebeensenttotheBornFreeUSAPrimateSanctuarywww.bornfreeusa.orgindilley,Texas.Whilethisisastepintherightdirection,theUSstilllagsbehindinanimalrightseffortscomparedtoothercountries.MedicalresearchongreatapeshasbeenbannedinBelgium,

Austria,Sweden,theNetherlandsandNewzealand.SpainandtheBalearicIslandshavegrantedgreatapeslegalrightsandJapan,AustraliaandtheUnitedKingdomhavelawsthatseverelyrestricttheuseofgreatapesinresearch.

IntheUS,agroupofpeoplehavegonetocourt,tryingtogiveacaptivechimpanzeemanyofthesamerightsasahumanbeing,andposingsomeveryinterestingarguments.AcourtcaseinNewyorkStateisarguingthequestionofwhetherachimpanzeehasrightsasaperson--notasahuman;thereisadistinction.Theypointtoaprecedent,setbytheSupremeCourtwhenitruledthatcorporationshaverightsaspersons.

ChimpanzeesentertainthemassesinperformancesliketheIceCapades,serveasmedicalresearchsubjects,andshare98.7percentofdNAincommonwithhumans.Sothequestionariseswhyshouldn’tchimpanzeesbeallowedtohavelawyers?Followingthatlogic,anothereffortisunderway.TheChimpanzeeCollaboratory(www.chimpcollaboratory.org)isaprojectunitingattorneys,scientistsandpublicpolicyexpertsworkingtomakesignificantandmeasurableprogressinprotectingthelivesandestablishingthelegalrightsofchimpanzees.TheChimpanzeeCollaboratorywasestablishedin2000throughagenerousgrantfromtheGlaserProgressFoundation.Thisgrouphasdraftedlegislationthatproposestoallownonprofitgroupstopetitioncourtsinordertoserveasguardiansforanychimpwhois“subjectedtothewillfuluseofforceorviolenceuponitsbody.”

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Oneofthereasonsthatconcernaboutchimprightshasgrownisbecauseofthegrowingnumberofchimpsincaptivity.Theanimalswerebredaggressivelyinthe1980sforAIdSresearch.Amongthosechampioningthechimps’causeisconstitutionalscholarLaurenceTribe,aHarvardLawSchoolprofessor.Heandothershavearguedthatchimpsareabletousetools,interactsocially,andteachtheiroffspring.Theypointoutthatsomechimpshavelearnedsignlanguage,

andareabletocommunicateatthesamelevelasathreeorfouryearoldchild.

Bylaw,animalsare“property,”or“things”thatdonothaverightsontheirown.Butsomelegalreformers,includingTribe,wouldliketoseethelegaldefinitionof“persons”expandedtoincludechimpanzees.Chimpanzeesareourclosestgeneticrelatives.Ofcourse,chimpanzeescannotfilelawsuitsontheirown,butanimal-rightsadvocatesareproposing

thatjudgescouldappointahuman“guardian-at-law,”torepresentthemincourt,similartothewaylegalguardiansmayrepresentchildren.Withlegalrights,chimpscouldseekinjunctionstoblockresearchers,animaltrainersonmoviesets,andoperatorsofroadsideattractionswhomightharmtheanimalseitherphysicallyorpsychologically.Theycouldalsoseekdamagesformedicalexpenses,andtheirguardianscouldseekpunitivedamagesagainstanyonewhodeniesthemtheirrights.

Theconceptof“animalrights”springsfromtheideathatsome,orall,

nonhumanbeingsareentitledtothepossessionoftheirownlives,andthattheirmostbasicinterests--suchasaninterestinnotsuffering--shouldbeaffordedthesameconsiderationashumanbeings.Advocatesopposetheassignmentofmoralvalueandfundamentalprotectionsonthebasisofspeciesmembershipalone--anideaknownsince1970as“speciesism,”whenthetermwascoinedbyRichardd.Ryder--arguingthatitisaprejudiceas

irrationalasanyother.Theyagreeforthemostpartthatanimalsshouldnolongerbeviewedasproperty,orusedasfood,clothing,researchsubjects,entertainment,orbeastsofburden.

Howcanonedecidewhatrightsananimalshouldhave?Somepeoplemightsay,“Animalsshouldn’thavetherightsofahumanbeing,becausetheycannotbehaveresponsiblylikeahumanbeing.”Now,theremightbesomemerittothis.Anadulthastherighttovote,therighttodrinkalcohol

(responsibly),therighttoownpropertyandtherighttodriveacar,andsoon.

Theserightsaredeniedtooneclassofhumans,withoutexception,andthatischildren.Childrenaredeniedtherighttovote,therighttodrinkalcohol,therighttoownpropertyandtherighttodriveacar,allforgoodreasons.Astheygrow,andlearn,theybecomecapableofassumingtheresponsibilitiesofanadultandareallowedthoserights.However,despitenothavingthoserights,theyarestillentitledtothebasicnecessitiesoffood,water,shelter,clothing,andadecentlifewithoutcruelty,suffering,orexploitation.

Thequestionthenarises,onwhatbasisdowedecidewhichanimalshavecertainrightsandwhichdonot?Petswillalwayshavethetoprungoftheladder,becausepetownerschoosetotreattheirpetswell.Whenconsideringallanimals,criteriasuchasthesizeofthebrain,theirmemoryabilities,theirsocialactivities,theirlanguageskills,eventheirconsciousnessseemtofallshortofavalidreasonastowhyanimalsshouldnothaverights.

Withregardtoconsciousness,acommontheoryofconsciousnessisthatitisdefinedastheactionofthebrain.Consciousness,itissaid,issimplywhatthebraindoes.Further,weknowthatourbrainisanoutgrowthoftheanimalbrain.Anatomiststellusthatthehumanbrain,withtheneo-cortexcarefullyliftedaway,isidenticalinsizeandinfunctiontothebrainofcommondomesticatedanimalssuchasthepig.Psychologicaltestinghasshownthatmanyofthefunctionsusedonadailyorhourlybasisbyhumans,suchasattention,objectrecognition,andevenemotion,arefullyfunctionalinanimals.Itisnotimpropertothinkofhumansasbeingfirstofallsimilartootheranimals,justwithasomewhatlarger

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WASHOEWASTHEFIRSTNON-HUMANTOLEARNAMERICANSIGNLANGUAGE.THISALLOWEdHERTOCOMMUNICATEWITHHUMANSSHOWINGHERABILITyTOEMPATHIzE.


neo-cortexandwithalargeculturalcomponentwhichmustbelearnedduringchildhood.

Oftentimesitisbelievedthatanimalsarenotself-aware.Self-awarenesscanbedemonstratedthroughtheuseofanumberoftests.Forexample,themirrortestwillputamirrorbeforeatestsubject.Achildovertheageof,say,fiveyearswillquicklyrealizethattheimageinthemirrorishimself.Hisbehaviorwillbeexploratoryinnature,inwhichhemakesfacesinthemirror;andactivelylooksathisownmouthandnose.Thechildshowsself-awareness.Thesametestwithachimpanzeewillshowthatthechimpwillalsomakefacesandevenexplorehisownmouthandnoseinthemirror.

Manypeopleagreethathigheranimalshaveconsciousnessanddemonstratetherudimentsofsocialstructure,problem-solvingability,andmusicalability(inbirds).Language,definedastransmissionofinformationbysound,isdonenotonlybyhumansbutalsobyelephants,cetaceansand

birds.Somechimpanzeeshavebeentaughttherudimentsoflanguage.Someparrotsareexcellentmimics.Alex,thegreyparrot,constructedhisownsentencestoissuecommandstohisowner.

TempleGrandinhaswrittenextensivelyinherbooksaboutanimals,inawaywhichisbothveryscientificandveryinsightful.Shedescribes,inherbooks,manyinsightsintothewaythatanimalsperceive,andthink.Grandinhasdonemuchtoimproveconditionsinslaughterhousesforcattle.Thisisverypragmaticwork.Shedoesnotthinkslaughterhousescanbeeliminated,buttheycanbeimproved.AnditistothisthatGrandinhasdevotedherenergies.AprofessoratColoradoStateUniversity,sheholdsadoctorateofanimalscience,isanengineer,abest-sellingauthor,anautisticactivist,andservesasaconsultanttothelivestockindustryonanimalbehavior.Asapersonwhogrewupwithautism,sheusedanimalsandhersensitivitytowardthemasawaytocopewithherdisorder.ShewroteAnimals in Translationin2005,andAnimals Make Us Humanin2009.

Thetheosophicalperspectiveonanimalsisbasedontheconceptoftheonenessofalllife.OftensubsumedunderthewordBrotherhood,itstemsfromtheideathatalllifeonearthspringsfromasinglesource.AcloserlookattheBuddhistsourceofthisbeliefshowsanintimateawarenessofourownroots.WewouldnotbeherewithouttheGreatApes.Inthatsense,then,theyareourcousins,anditisreasonabletotreatthemaswewouldourowndistantrelatives.Weshouldenjoytheircompanyforbriefvisits,helpthemoutduringtheirtimesofneed,butoverall,justexpectthemtolivetheirownlivesastheychoose,andletthembe.Liveandletlive.Certainly,

wewouldn’tstealfromthemorexterminatethem.

Theosophytellsusthatlifelivesinastream.Justastherearethosegreatbeingswholongagowentthroughthehumanstage,therearealsothose“lessevolved”beingswhoarelookingforwardtogoingthroughthehumanstageinthefuture.Thosebeingsarecurrentlyintheanimalstage.Iflifeislikeaschool,wemightsaythatthefifth-graderswilllookforwardtoonedaybeingsixth-gradersandrecalltheirowndaysasfourth-graders.Theremightbesomecondescensiontowardthethird-andfourthgraders,buttherewillalsobesomefondness.Itisthisattitudethatthetheosophicalviewencourages.

TheBuddhasaidinoneofhislecturesthathedesiredtoteachtoallwhoareteachable.Someofhisstudentsinterpretedthattomeananimalsaswellashumans.Certainlythehighermammalsmaybeincludedinthatcategory.SomeBuddhiststhinkthatanaspectoftheindividualhumancan,afterdeath,reincarnateintoanotherhumanbabybody,butalsocouldreincarnateintoananimalbody.Likewise,someanimalscouldreincarnateintohumans.Giventheexplosivegrowthofthenumberofhumansaliveontheearthinrecentgenerations,Ithinkitwouldbeentirelylikelythatmanypeoplewalkingaroundtodayareinahumanbodyforthefirsttime.Theymay,accordingtosomeBuddhists,haverecentlybeenoneoranotheranimal.Apragmaticattitudemightbealongthelinesof,“ThereisapossibilitythatImightreincarnateasananimal.Justincasethatmightbetrue,thenIwouldthinkitprudenttoassurethatanimalsarewell-treated,justincase.”

dR.TEMPLEGRANdINISAPROFESSORATCOLORAdOSTATEUNIvERSITy.BORNWITHAUTISM,SHEHASALWAySHAdASENSITIvITyOFANIMALS’EMOTIONS.

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Beagle freedom project: a new lease on life for laboratory animals By katHy Gan n

T heTheosophicalOrderofServiceispleasedtooffersupporttotheBeagleFreedomProject,anorganizationthatrescuesresearchanimals

beingreleasedfromlaboratories.TheoperatingmethodsandethicsdemonstratedbythisgroupexemplifythetheosophicalidealofrecognizingtheOneLifeinall.

In2012,nearly70,000dogswereusedinlaboratoryexperiments,andabout96%ofthemwerebeagles.Whybeagles?Becausebeaglesaredocile,forgivingandpeople-pleasingtoafault.Recentlysomelaboratorieshaveshownawillingnesstoreleaseanimalstheynolongerneedorwantforfurtherexperiments,ratherthaneuthanizingthemasiscustomaryintheindustry.Thisgivesthedogsachancetohealandfindahappy,lovinghome.

EnteranimalrightsattorneyShannonKeithandasmallnetworkofrescuevolunteers.In2010,Shannonheardaboutagroupofdogsbeingreleasedfromaresearchlab,andtheBeagleFreedomProject(www.BeaglefreedomProject.org)wasborn.Sincethen,Shannonandvolunteershave

performedatleast25rescues,freeing171dogs,10ponies,9rabbits,3pigs,7catsand2goldfishfromanimaltestinglaboratories…andthenumberofrescueescontinuestorise.

Rescuedanimalsarehousedwithfosterfamiliesandreceivebadly-neededveterinariancaresotheycanregainphysicalhealth.Fosterfamilieshelptoinitiateemotionalandpsychologicalhealingwhilethe

animalswaittobeadoptedintotheirforeverhomes.Overthepastthreeyears,theBeagleFreedomProject

hasperformedrescueafterrescue,andhashadgreatsuccessinfindinghomesforthesespecial-needsanimals(laboratoryanimalsarenothousetrained,areunfamiliarwithhowtobeatreasuredpet,andmanysufferfromPTSdandintensefear).TheBeagleFreedomProject’ssuccess,Ibelieve,isdueinlargeparttothewayinwhichtheyapproachlaboratories.TheyhavewrittenrespectfulletterstolaboratoriesintheUnitedStates,offeringtoacceptanyanimalsthelabiswillingtorelease.Theofferismadewithnojudgment,noaccusations,andwithnodangerofthelaboratorybeing“exposed”orpublicized.Ifanyotherapproachwereused,thelaboratorywouldlikelynotbewillingtoreleasetheanimals.

Inmid-december2013,Kevinparticipatedinhis25threscueoperation,freeingninebeaglesfromaMinnesotaresearchlab.Raymondwasoneofthenine,andKevintookRaymondhomeforthenight.Raymondpacedincessantly,stressedfromnotunderstandinghisnewenvironment,fearfulaboutwhatmightbecomingnext.Exhaustedhimself,KevinwrappedRaymondinablanket,heldhimonhischest,andtheybothsettleddownforarest.

Kevinrecalls,“Theday’sfulleventscombinedwith

FRIENdSFORLIFE—KEvINCHASEWITHRAyMONd.KEvINISTHEdIRECTOROFOPERATIONSFORBEAGLEFREEdOMPROJECT.

THISTHREEyEAROLdBEAGLEWASONEOFSIxdOGSFREEdFROMALABINCOLORAdO.

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happy 80th Birthday Jane goodall

JaneGoodallwasbornApril3,1934.Herworkobservingchimpanzeesinthewildhaschangedmanyfacetsofhowscientistscollectdataon

wildlife.Asasecretaryforhermentorandfrienddr.LouisLeaky,JanewassentouttostudychimpsinTanzaniainthe1950s.Leakyhopedthatbystudyingchimpsinthewild,hecouldobtainabetterunderstandingofhumanevolution.Hewasright.Throughpatienceandpersistence,JaneobservedherchimpfrienddavidGreybeardusingaprobetoretrievetermitesfromamound.Toolmakingwasconsideredtobesomethingthathappenedduringhumanevolution.ButtheresatJane,watchingintentlyasdavidandanotherchimpshenamedGoliath,torelargeleavesintostripsandturnedthemintoprobestoplacedowninthetermiteholes.Thetwochimpspatientlywaitedandeventuallypulleduptheprobeandsnackedontermites.

Thisdiscoverywouldnothavehappenedwithoutthecuriosityandpatienceofawomanwhoseloveforanimalsdidnotsurpassherowncomfortandsafety.Jane’sworkhasopenednewavenuesforanimalsnotonlyintheobservationofanimalbehavior,butalsoinanimalconservation,theemotionalintelligenceofanimals,andtheneedforsustainability.Herprogram“RootsandShoots”runthroughtheJaneGoodallInstitutewww.janegoodall.orgisayouth-ledorganizationthatallows“youngpeoplemaptheircommunitytoidentifyspecificchallengestheirneighborhoodsface.Fromthere,theyprioritizetheproblems,developaplanforasolution,andtakeaction.”Thisnotonlyempowersyoungpeople,butitalsokeepsthemawareofchallengesintheircommunitiesandmakesthemunderstandtheneedtotakeresponsibilitytocreatechange.

WhatisextraordinaryaboutJaneisherkeeninsightasascientist,butalsoherimmenseheart.Whatdriveshertocontinueherwork,isherunderstandingoflife’sdeeperaspects.

InherbookA Reason for Hope:A Spiritual Journeypublishedin1999,Janewritesaboutaspiritualmomentofawakeningsheexperienced,onerarelyadmittedbyscientistsofherstature,

Allatoncethecathedralwasfilledwithahugevolumeofsound:anorganplayingmagnificentlyforaweddingtakingplaceinadistantcorner.Bach’s

ToccataandFugueindMinor.Ihadalwayslovedtheopeningtheme;butinthecathedral,fillingthevastness,itseemedtoenterandpossessmywholeself.Itwasasthoughthemusicitselfwasalive.

Thatmoment,asuddenlycapturedmomentofeternity,wasperhapstheclosestIhaveevercometoexperiencingecstasy,theecstasyofthemystic.HowcouldIbelieveitwasthechancegyrationsofbitsofprimevaldustthathadleduptothatmomentintime—thecathedralsoaringtothesky;thecollectiveinspirationandfaithofthosewhocausedittobebuilt;theadventofBachhimself;thebrain,hisbrain,thattranslatedtruthintomusic;andthemindthatcouldasminedidthen,comprehendthewholeinexorableprogressionofevolution?SinceIcannotbelievethiswastheresultofchance,Ihatetoadmitanti-chance.AndsoImustbelieveinaguidingpowerintheuniverse—inotherwords,ImustbelieveinGod…

Ibelievedinthespiritualpowerthat,asaChristian,IcalledGod.ButasIgrewolderandlearnedaboutdifferentfaithsIcametobelievethattherewas,afterall,butOneGodwithdifferentnames:Allah,Tao,theCreator,andsoon.God,forme,wastheGreatSpiritinWhomweliveandmoveand

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haveourbeing.Understandingtheunityofalllifeandthebeliefina

guidingpower,hasunderlinedmuchofJane’swork.Asachildshewasalwaysfascinatedbyanimals.Onestoryfromherwebsitestatesthatshewentmissingformanyhours.Herparentsactuallycalledthepolicebecausetheywereunabletofindher.Janehadtuckedherselfawayinthechickencoop,quietlyobservinghowchickenslayeggs.Shewassoexcitedwiththediscoverythathermotherdidn’tscoldherwhenshefinallyfoundher.InsteadsheletJanetellherallaboutherdiscovery.

OneofJane’schildhoodcompanionswasherdogRusty.InherbookMy Life with Chimpanzees,Janewritesaboutthepersonalities,theminds,andtheemotionsofanimals,aswellstoriesofRustyandherfriendshipwithhim.Itseemsfromthestoriestold,Janedidnotfeelanimalswereanydifferentthanpeople.ItisnowonderthatshewasatonetimeinterestedinTheosophy.Theteachingsmusthaveprovidedhersomekindofvalidationtowhatshewasdiscoveringforherself.

Attheageof80,Janeisstillactivelytravellingaroundtheworld.Onherwebsiteitstatesthatshetravels300daysoutoftheyearconstantlytalkingtopeopleabouttheneedtotakeactionsowecansavethechimpsinAfricaaswellastheenvironmentthatsustainsus.Wewishdr.Goodallmanymoreactivedaysaheadandthankandhonorherfortheextraordinaryexampleshehasgivensomanyofusandhertirelessefforttomaketheworldabetterplace.

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thesenewcomfortsofasoftcushionandawarmembracetriggeredaninstantsleep.Forthehourhesleptonmychesttherealityofhistraumasetin.Iwantedsomuchtojustmakehimbetter,tofeelsafe,butsadlyknowthatwecannotundotheyearsoftormenthehassufferedinacouplehoursorevendays.Hisroadtorecoverywouldbealongoneandhewasjuststarting...butatleasthe’sgotthischancethough.”

Sadly,thevastmajorityoflaboratoryresearchanimalswillneverhaveachanceatfreedomandhappiness.Recently,theBeagleFreedomProjectintroducedlegislation

inMinnesota,Michigan,andCaliforniawhichwouldrequirethatalltaxpayerfundedlabsmustoffertheirdogsandcatsupforadoptionthroughanimalrescueorganizationsinsteadofsummarilyeuthanizingthemasisthecurrentstandardpractice.

Here’s something we can all do:“votewithyourwallet”bybuyingproductscertifiedascrueltyfree.AlthoughtheFdAstillmandatesanimaltestingonsomeproducts,itdoesnotrequireanimaltestingoncosmetics.yet,somecompaniesstilltestcosmeticproductsonanimals.Pleasemakeamonetarystatementbypurchasingonlycruelty-freeproducts.Thecrueltyofanimalresearchstops…whenitstopsturningaprofit.

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recommended reading

BOOks By janE GOODaLL

In the Shadow of Man(withHughvanLawickanddavidA.Hamburg)

Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating(withGailHudsonandGaryMcAvoy)

Through a Window: My Thirty Years with the Chimpanzees of Gombe

Hope for Animals and their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink(withThaneMaynardandGailHudson)

The Ten Trusts: What We Must Do to Care for the Animals We Love(withMarcBekoff)

Africa in My Blood: An Autobiography in Letters

Seeds of Hope: Wisdom and Wonder from the World of Plants (GailHudson,MichaelPollan)


Where the Wild Things are By ananya s. ra jan

T hewildlifefoundinourbackyardcansometimesbeourgreatestteacher.When

wearefortunateenoughtohaverabbits,squirrels,chipmunks,andvarioustypesofbirdsinouryard,westepintoaworldthatisdifferentfromourown.Aswesoonfindout,theenergyofawildanimalisverydifferentfromthatofadomesticatedone.Wildcreaturestendtohaveatypeofnervousnessduetotheneedtobeawareofpredators.Theydon’trelax

whileeatingorforagingandoftenanoisewillalarmthem,sendingthemscamperingorflyingoff.Theyalsohavetheirownwayofcommunicatingwitheachotherthatweoftenarenotprivytounlesswespendagreatdealoftimeobservingthem.

Itissaidthatbywatchingnatureandtrulyobservingit,wecanlearnmoreaboutourselvesthananybookcantellus.Naturecanbeagreatteacherifweallowit.Whathindersus,howeverisourreluctancetogivewhatwefeelarehumanemotionsand

qualitiestotheanimalsweseearoundus.Butaswehavediscoveredfromthevariousarticlesinthisissue,animalsarefarmorelikeusthandifferent.Whiletherearemanyexamplesofwildanimalsdisplayingimmensecompassionandempathyfortheirownandotherspecies,theoppositeisalsotrue.Certainspeciesmayseemtocarelessfortheiryoungthanwedo,mayseemabitmorecunningthanwewouldliketobelieveourselvestobe,mayseemtobemoreaggressive,

fearful,andsoon.Whenweseethesebehaviors,wedistanceourselvesfromthewildlifearoundus,believingourselvestobemore“cultured”or“refined”thanthem.Butsometimesatraitinaparticularanimalwecomeacrossinour

backyardcanbeawake-upcallforourinnergrowth.

WhenIbeganworkingwithaNativeAmericanelderwhowasamedicineman,oneofthefirstthingsIwasencouragedtodowastorenewmyrelationshipwithnatureandthewildlifearoundme.Atthetime,Iwasastayathomemomandmymindwasalwaysfocusedonmychildren.AsmuchIwantedtogivemyattentiontootherthings,mychildren’sschedulesalwayscamefirst.ItbecameapatterninmythinkingthatIwasnotaware

ofuntilIstartedsittinginthewoodsataforestpreservenearby.despitemeditatingeveryday,Ifoundmyselfinitiallyunabletoquietmymindwhileinthewoods.Iwouldbringablanket,findasecludedplaceunderabigpinetreeandjustsit.Iremembereddoingthesamethingasachild.Sensitivetodifferentenergies,Ifoundthewoodsasoothingprotectiveplacetobe.Butlifewasnowdifferent.Iwasnolongerachild.Mymindwasbusywithschedules,homework,schoolprogressnotes,doctor’sappointments,andsoon.HoweverthemoreIsat,thelongerIsat;thelongerIsat,thequietermymindbecame.MyrewardcameintheformofadeerthatcrossedmypathunafraidthatIwasthere.Iwaselated.

Aboutaweeklater,IsharedthestorywithmyteacherwhosmiledandrecommendedthebookAnimal Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small.byTedAndrews.“youwillbesurprisedtofindoutwhatthatanimalhastoteachyou.”Iwastakenaback.HereIwasfeelinghappythatIhadbeenquietenoughtohaveawildanimalgetclosetome,buttherewasmore.IboughtacopyofAnimal Speakandreaduponwhatthedeer“medicine”hadtoteachme.Inoneofthelastparagraphs,Andrewswrites,“Thedeerleadsusbacktotheprimalwisdomofthoseoldteachings...Itmayindicate,ifthedeerhasshownupinyourlifethatyouhavegottentoofarawayfromtherolethatwouldbemostbeneficialforyouatthistime.”Formepersonally,thisremindedmeofthesensitivityIhadasachild,myloveofthewoods,andaneedformetoreturntonaturewhichIhadunknowingly

MEOWMEOW,ONEOFTHEFERALCATS,SUNSHIMSELFONTHEHOOdOFACAR.

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movedawayfrom.Sincethebookwaspublished,

Animal Speak hassoldoverahalfamillioncopiesandthosewhouseitregularlysaythattheyfeelithelpsthembecomemoreawareofinnerissuestheymaynotbeseeingandgivingattentionto.Weliveinaworldofenergythatconnectsustoeachotherandoursurroundings.Animalshavebeenteacherstomanyindigenouspopulationsforcenturiesbecauseoftheircloserelationshipwiththeearthandthenaturalsurroundingstheylivein.Byquietlyunderstandingthevariousstrengthsandqualitiesofanimals,wemayfindacloserconnectiontonatureand,inturn,ourselves.Itissaidthatwhenweareabletocreatethisstrongconnectionwithnature,certainanimalswillbeourguidesortotems.Throughtheseparticularguidesweareabletounderstandourownstrengthsaswellthepartsofusthat

needimprovement.Manyyearshavepassedsincethat

incidentwiththedeer.Inowliveinahousesurroundedbywoods.EverydayIamvisitedbydeerwhocontinuallyremindmetobegentleandnevertakeanythingforgranted,eventhem.However,IamalsohumbledbythemanyotherexchangesIhavewiththevariouscreaturesaroundme.WhenImovedintomyhouse,Iwasadoptedbythreeferalcatsthathavenowbecomeapartofmylife.Catenergy,accordingtoAndrews,dealswith“mystery,magic,andindependence.”IfoundthisinterestingasIwaslivingalone(independence),whichallowedmetothrowmyselfdeeperintomyspirituallife(mystery/unseen),andhaveabetterunderstandingofmyownlatentpowerswithin,whichcanbemagical.

IthasbecomeapparentthatwhereIliveiswhereIammeanttobe.OnthedayofmyclosingaswellaseverytimeIhavehadagatheringofpeopleatmyhouse,sevendeerhavemadetheirappearanceontheland.Ifirstthoughtitwascoincidencebutthenrealizedthattheyappearedatrandomtimes,notjustmorningandevening.Ifelttheywerelettingothersknowthelandwasblessed.Thisfeelingwasvalidatedbyaseerwhovisitedthepropertyandsaidrathercasually,“Thisahealingplace.yourlandisblessed.ButIamsureyouknowthisalready.”Igiggledandtoldherthestoryofthedeer.Sherespondedthoughtfully,“Hmmm…yes,yourtotem.”

Everymorningandevening,oncethecatsaredoneeating,araccoonmakesherwayfromundermydeckandwalksrightuptome.Iwaswaryofheratfirst,butwehavesincebecomegoodfriends.InfactwhenIcallthecatsforfood,shewilloftencomerunningaswell.SometimesIwillfindherlookingthroughthewindowofthedoorpatientlywaitingforfood.AccordingtoAndrews,raccoonsteachus“dexterityanddisguise.”Asahomeowner,onemustlearntocareforthingsandmaintainthem.dexterityisamust,evenifitisthedexterityofpickingupthephonetocallahandyman!Butdexterityisalsoaboutnavigatingormovingwithgrace.Inlife,areweabletomovegracefullyfromonesituationtoanother,orarewestompingourfeetanddiggingourheelsinthesand?Weareoftentheonlyobstacletoourownhappiness.

ATEACHEROFdISGUISEANddExTERITy,“RACCOONIE”WAITSPATIENTLy(ANdGRACEFULLy)FORHERdINNER.

Having the grace ‘to accept that which we cannot change

and the wisdom to know the difference’ is dexterity of

the soul.

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Havingthegrace“toacceptthatwhichwecannotchangeandthewisdomtoknowthedifference”isdexterityofthesoul.

disguiseisoftenthoughtofinanegativeway.Granteditiswhenusedasameanstotrickordeceiveothers.Butthemaskoftheraccooncanteachustransformationaswellwhichisnecessaryforourownspiritualprogress.Sometimesweneedtomaskorhidethatwhichissacredfromtheprofanesoitstayssacred.Atthesametime,themaskcanremindusthattoprogressspiritualityweneedtobewhoweareandnotcarewhattheworldthinks.Inotherwords,tobeauthenticandnotmaskwhowetrulyare.

Aboutayearago,mysistersandIdecidedtobuildasweatlodgeontheproperty.Forthosewhomaynotknow,asweatlodgeisastructurelikeawigwamusedforprayer,healing,andpurification.Wehadallworkedwithindigenouseldersandwantedtocontinueourworknowthatwehadthelandtodoso.Asweallcame

fromdifferentteachings,wedecidedthatwewouldbuildthelodgeinonefashion,buttheceremonywouldbeeclectic,takingfromvarioustraditions,butrespectfulofeachone.Thisdoesnotholdwellforsometeacherswhoareveryrigidororthodoxintheirways,sowewerealittleconcernedaboutthebacklashitmightproducefromothercommunities.despitehavingtheblessingsfromdifferenteldersfromvarioustraditions,whoactuallyencouragedustostartourcommunity,mysistersandIfelttrepidationaboutournewendeavor.Wequestionedwhetherwewereknowledgeableenoughtostartacommunity,whetherwewerepreparedtoplaytheroleoffacilitators,andwhetherwehonestlyknewwhatweweregettingourselvesinto.Oncealodgeisbuiltandopened,itbreathsitsownenergyandneedstobecaredfor.Asitisaplaceofhealing,thelandarounditneedstocontinuallybesanctifiedthroughsmudgingandprayers.Thisresponsibilitylieswiththepersonwhohasthelodgeontheir

propertyoradesignatedcaretaker.Thespotwechoseforthelodge

wasunderabigoaktreenexttoacreek.Onthemorningofourfirstsweat,wedecidedtomeditateforafewminutesbythewater.Thereinthecreekwadedablueheronwhoseteachingis“aggressiveself-determinationandself-reliance.”Icouldhavewept.Hereweweresounsureaboutwhatweweredoingandquestioningourselvesdespitethenodsweweregettingfromelders,andtherewasablueheronlettingusknowtostopquestioningitall,relyonourowninnerknowing,andpaveourownpath.Needlesstosay,ourcommunityhasdonequitewellandeveryonewhoattendsseemstogetwhattheyareinneedof.Wehavediscoveredthatwhatmostpeoplearelookingforisnottraditionbutunconditionalacceptanceandlove,twoqualitiesourcommunityimbibes.

WhileIcannotexplaintheoccurrencesmentionedabove,Irefusetobelievetheyarecoincidences.Tome,itwouldbelikesayingtheworldisblackandwhite.Whenwehaveaconnectiontonature,thereismorecolorandjoytolifethatonlythosewhoexperienceitknow.Ifwebelievethatthereisaunityofalllife,theneventhesmallestcreatureholdssomesignificancetoourhumanexistence.Itisuptoustounderstandthatsignificancesowecanunderstandourrelationshiptonatureandthenourrelationshiptoourselves.Agoodplacetostartiswherethewildthingsare.

dEER“MEdICINE”CANTEACHUSGENTLENESSANdTHEWISdOMTONEvERTAKEANyTHINGFORGRANTEd.EvENOURSELvES.

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M ynameisNicoleGriffin.IamamemberoftheSpiritLakeSiouxTribeofNorth

dakota.IwasraisedinMinneapolis,MNandlivedtherewithbothofmyparentsandtwoyoungerbrothers.IhavebeenaresidentofSouthdakotaforthelastsixyears,raisingmychildrenandworkingonmyeducationalgoalofbecominganRN.Ihaveafiancéof13yearswithwhomIcurrentlyresideandtogetherwehavefivebeautifulchildren(3girlsand2boys,ages1to12).Igraduatedfromhighschoolin2002inMinneapolis,MN.IalsograduatedfromWdTIhereinRapidCity,Sdin2009withadiplomaasaHealthUnitCoordinator/Patientcaretechnician.Iamcurrentlyinmy2ndyearofnursingschoolhereatOglalaLakotaCollegeofNursinginhopesofgraduatingthiscomingJune2014withanAAinNursing.IplanonworkingonmyBachelor’sdegreeafterIgraduatetofurthermyeducation.

Iamcurrentlyworkingpart-timeasanursingassistantwhile

attendingschoolinPineRidge,Southdakotafull-time.(Idriveabout200milesadayfromRapidCity,SdjusttoattendclassesweeklyinPineRidge.)LifehasnotbeeneasyformealthoughIhavemanagedtomakeitthisfarandhavenocurrentplansongivingup.ToobtainadegreeinNursingislikeadreamcometrueformeandmyfamily.Ihavestruggledandstruggled,butcontinuedtostaystrongwithmanyhopesanddreamsalongtheway.IhavehitroadblocksandshedmanyoftearsalongthisjourneyofmineandnowIcanfinallyseethelightattheendofthetunnel.Ihaveahugesupportteambehindmeincludingmybiggestfanswhoaremychildren.WhenIreceivedthisletterstatingIwasarecipientofyourwonderfulscholarship,Iwasamazedandshocked.Ismiledandgottearyeyedonmywayhome.Ijustcouldn’tbelieveitandwassoanxioustoletmyfamilyknowofthegreatnews.

Thisscholarshipmeansalottomeandmyfamily.Weareverythankful

toyourcommitteeforchoosingmeasyour2014scholarshiprecipient.Ialsowanttothankyourcommitteeforworkinghardtomakesomethinglikethispossibleforallthehardworkingstudentsoutthere,yourworkandthisgiftisverymuchappreciated,againThankyousomuch.

Pilamiya-Thankyou.NicoleGriffin

from our scholarship recipients

NICOLEGRIFFIN

M ynameisAmyWilson.IamamemberoftheOglalaLakotaTribe.IamthegranddaughterofChiefOliverRedCloud,whowastheChairman

fortheBlackHillsTreatyCounciloftheeightbandsoftheTetonnation.Hewasalsoaculturalteacherandspokeofeducationasimportanttoourpeople’sfuture.IamalsothesixgenerationdescendantoftheItacanMahpiyaLuta(ChiefRedCloud;whoduringhiscareerasWarchiefandStatesman,foundedtheRedCloudIndianSchoolthathaseducatedourLakotapeopleforover100years.)Iam43yearsold.Ihavetwosons,RomanandMarcus.Roman25,graduatedfromRedCloudIndianSchoolasalifecareerstudentin2008.MysecondsonMarcusis20yearsoldandgraduatedfromFlandreauIndianSchoolin2011.MyonlydaughterJorganais17yearsoldandiscurrentlyajunioratRedCloudIndianSchool.Ihavebeenblessedwithtwograndsons,KobeKing

James,fouryearsoldandMarcusvincentJameswhojustturnedtwoyearsold.IamalsoproudtosayIhavetwobeautifuldaughters-in-lawaddedtomyfamily.MymotherisNancyRedCloudPerezandmyfatherisRicharddickOrinWilsonSr.Ihave10sistersandfivebrothers.IamasinglemotherandlivedhereonthePineRidgeReservationallmylife.IplanonstayingheretoworkasaRegisteredNurseonceIgraduateandobtainmylicense.

IreceivedmyG.E.d.fromOglalaLakotaCollege(O.L.C.)inSeptember1990.MyfirstjobwasatSiouxNationShoppingCenterin1989.IworkedthereforacoupleofyearsuntilIlandedajobattheOglalaLakotaHousingAuthorityin1992asaResidentialTrainerCounselor.IexcelledinthatpositionandwasselectedtoattendOccupancySpecialisttraininginChicago,Illinois.IreceivedacertificationandstartedworkingasanOccupancySpecialistfortheHousing

29For the Love of Life

Authority.AfterfiveyearsItookmymother’sadviceandstartedcollegeatO.L.C.in1997.IfoundthatIlikedgoingtocollege,theatmosphere,thefeelingofbeingproductive,learning,andgettinganeducationthatwouldhelpmetobettermylifeandmylittlefamily.IreceivedmyAssociatesofArtsdegreeinGeneralBusinessinJune2000,withaG.P.A.of3.75.IcontinuedmyeducationtoobtainmyBSinBusinessAdministrationinthefollowingthreesemesters.

AlmosttwoyearsafterIgraduatedmyyoungercousinwasinacaraccidentandbecameaquadriplegic.IreceivedonthejobtrainingasaC.N.A.andstartedworkingasherpersonalattendantthroughaprogramcalledPrairieFreedomCenterforIndependentLivinglocatedinPierre,Southdakota.Iworkedfortwoyears.AtthistimemymotherhadfallenillandwasdiagnosedwithESRd(EndStageRenaldisease)andhadtobeputondialysis.Ireceivedtrainingtohelpassistherwithhertreatments,medicationadministrations,anddailyliving.In2002Ineededtofindwork,sowiththeskillsandexperiencesIhadacquiredfromhelpingmymotherandcousinIwashiredattheBlackHillsdialysisinPineRidgeasaPatientCareTechnicianandduringthistimeIbecameaCertifiedHemodialysisTechnician.Iwasgratefulforthisjobwhichallowedmetohelpmymotherandsupportmyfamily.Towardstheendof2006mymotherhadamassiveheartattackandhadtohaveaquadruplebypass.Theseeventsbroughtalotofchangesformeandmyfamily.Foronething,IneverthoughtIwouldwanttoworkinthehealthcarefieldandyetfoundmyselfwithadeepsatisfactionI’veneverfeltwithanyotherjob,butafterfiveyearswiththedialysisImadeachoicetoquitworkinginearly2007sothatIcouldhelphertransitionfromtherehabilitationcentertoherhome.ShepassedawayinAprilof2007.Ilearnedalotfromworkingwiththedialysis--thediseaseprocess,thestrugglestheclientandfamilyendure,andtheeffectsonthefamily,financiallyandemotionally.Ifeltthelossofapatientbutalsothejoysofatransplant.ButmostimportantIrealizedthatcompassionislikeamedicinetopeoplewhoareillandadrivingforceforpeoplewhohelpothers.

TheselifechangingeventshaddeterredmyearliergoalsasIdecidedtostayinthehealthcarefield.duringmymothers’illness,shewasalwaysurgingmetogobacktoschoolMymotherwasmybiggestadvocateforeducationatthattimeandIcouldstillhearhersaying“Amy,youcoulddoandbeanythingyouwanttobebecauseyouaresmart.”IbelieveeverythinghappensforareasonandIknowthatithurtherthatIputmyeducationonholdbecauseofherillnesses.Icanstillhearherencouragingmetogobacktoschoolasshehasalwaysdone.

In2009IstartedworkingfortheIndianHealthServices(I.H.S.)asaMedicalSupportAssistant(M.S.A.).Ireallyenjoyedtheinteractionwiththeclientele.ItwassatisfyingtohelpothersandIfoundmyselfwantingtodomore.I

wasintriguedbytherolesofthenursesandthethoughtofhelpingotherswasinstilledinmefromlongago.Asmymotherpursuedhereducation,mygrandparentshelpedraiseme.Iwasraisedinthetraditionalways.Iwastaughtthemostimportantvaluesofbeinghuman;respect,generosity,courage,fortitude,andwisdom;bywatchingandlisteningtotheirwordsandactionsgrowingup.Ilearnedavaluablelesson:alwayshelpothersinneedevenifyouarehavingahardtimeyourself.Thefeelingofsharingandcaringisimmenselycalming.AgainImadealifechangingdecisionanddecidedtogobacktoschoolandbecomeanR.N.

IwanttobeinaprofessionthatIcanhelpmycommunitywhileIwillstillbeabletosupportmyimmediateandextendedfamilies.Iseesomuchsufferingandtheneedforhealthcareprofessionalsrighthereonthereservation.IamdeterminedtogetmyR.N.degree.IknowIwillbeagoodnurse.Iamolderandwiserinmydecisionsanddefinitelyhavenoregretstohowmylifehaschanged.IbelieveIwillbeanexcellentnursebecauseofmyexperiencesaswellasmyaccomplishments.

IamhonoredtohavebeenselectedtoreceivethismostprestigiousscholarshipforIdolovehelpingothersandwholeheartedlybelievein“Servicetoourfellowhumansandalloflifeonourplanet.”AndIwillproudlyjointhehealthcareteamsandbe“aunionofthosewholove,intheserviceofallthatsuffers.”

IamhonoredtoacceptthisscholarshipthatwillhelpmeduringmylastfewmonthsbeforeIcanproudlysayIamanR.N.

Pila Maya ye!(Thankyou).

AmyWilson

AMyWILSON

For the Love of LifeTheosophical order of service, Usa

1926N.MainStWheaton,IL60187www.theoservice.org

CHANGESERvICEREQUESTEd

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S.POSTAGE

PaiDCarolSteam,Illinois

PermitNo.2122

A Union of Those Who Love in the Service of All that Suffers


TOS news from around the world

The TOS in Peru warms hearts and bodiesIn 2013 the new TOS Correspondent in Peru,Patricia Moscoso Beiberach, started a campaign withfellow server Angie Ramos Garay to collect warmclothing for elderly needy people who suffer terribly inPeru’s chilly climate in winter.To inspire people to donate items, they had thehappy idea of creating an advertisement:

Giving a blanket you give a hand.Don’t let the cold weather freeze your heart.

You can give a blanket to warm their heart.The advertisement inspired many people to donateand all the items collected have recently beenentrusted to a special programme run by the Ministryof Women’s Affairs called Vida Digna that looks after250 individuals.

Bravo to Patricia and Angie!

Giving a blanket you give a hand.

Don’t let the cold weather freeze yourheart.

You can give a blanket to warm theirheart.

Annual TOS Gathering in SpainUnder the title The Devic Kingdom and the TOS, 17 members of the TOS in Spain came together in mid-Mayfor their annual three-day gathering. The subject was divided into six sub-themes:

· Human and devic cooperation in service

· Social assistance and the devic kingdom

· Devas and healing

· Devas and the protection of animals

· Ecology as an expression of the devic task

· The devic world and artistic expression.Three of the sessions, two on Saturday and one onSunday, began with a short meditation and eachsub-theme was presented by one of the participantsand was followed by discussion. It was a particularpleasure to have the new General Secretary and theTreasurer of the TS in Spain in attendance.

Members were happy to have the opportunity toexplore a connection between the work of the Devasand the TOS. They felt that the gathering was anuplifting and richly instructive one. This was the 16thconsecutive annual gathering of the TOS in Spain.Some participants said that it was the best seminarthey had attended in all these years as it opened awindow on a wider dimension in the TOS’s work.


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Above, we see TS General Secretary, Mrs AngelesTorra Buron, with TOS National Director, FernandoPérez Martin. Angeles said that she was delighted todiscover the high degree of participation in the way thethree days were structured. “There were a number ofshort individual presentations,” she commented, “andafter each one, time was allowed for each participantto comment in an atmosphere of gentle and thoughtfulattentiveness.”

Australian TOS groups raise funds for schoolsRecently the Sunshine Coast TOS group gatheredwith friends to enjoy a Solstice Celebration lunch andpoetry reading at the Spirit of Tibet restaurant. Theevent and raffle of a salt lamp and book raised fundsfor an impoverished village in Cambodia that thegroup is supporting through one of its members.The TOS Groups in Brisbane and Perth have bothbeen busy with fundraising events – a concert inBrisbane and lunches and cinema events in Perth.These events not only provided opportunities for TOSand TS members and friends to enjoy time together,but also raised sufficient funds to enable each TOSgroup to support a Qandeel home-school in Pakistan.

(above)Anne Bower, Gailene Wester, Renee Jonas,Viv Ward, Shirley Martin and George Wester from

the Perth TOS Group

(right) Violinist performing at the Brisbane TOSconcert

These schools are organised by the TOS in Pakistan and enable children, young girls and women who haveno opportunity to pursue even a basic education, to attend classes. Reading, writing and arithmetic are taughtby a teacher who holds classes at her own house which is in the same locality as the students. The TOSprovides teaching materials, a fan, water cooler and sitting rugs as well as training, regular support and asmall salary for the teacher.In many cases, if not enrolled in the Qandeel schools, the boys would be playing in the streets or going to areligious school. The girls would be doomed to doing domestic chores and caring for their younger siblings.For these little girls there is no carefree childhood. The Qandeel schools are therefore a golden opportunityfor these children and young women to start a new life.

TOS members in the USA send gifts to the Rosebud Indian Reservation


2 of 5 01/12/14 13:06

For many years, the Waziya Giveaway has takenplace due to the hard work of TOS member, KarenMcCormick, who has close ties with the residents ofthe Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota.Every year Karen shops, sorts, boxes, and drives orships clothes, toys, blankets and school supplies tothe families of Rosebud to ensure a happy Christmasfor some of the poorest people in the USA. Karen issupported by members of the Wheaton TOS ActionGroup. Money, jackets, hats, sweaters, gloves, andother items are generously donated by othervolunteers as well.

Italy TOSAt the beautiful and uplifting congress of the TS in Europe held in Paris from July 30 to August 3, 2014, the TOSin Italy raised 865 euros (US$1150) to support the Olcott Higher Secondary School at Adyar.

French member, Anne-Marie Mahnich, created a great variety of wonderful handicraft items for the sale.


3 of 5 01/12/14 13:06

Rosella Milani Fanzio, coordinator of theTOS in Italy, at the sale stand.

Patrizia Calvi, Anne-Marie and Rosella presented themoney to the new International President of the TS,Tim Boyd, who was kind enough to take it back to

Adyar with him.

The TOS in the Assam and Arunachal Region, IndiaAt their Annual General Meeting, the TOS in theAssam and Arunachal Region of India have onceagain celebrated a very full year of service activities.Dr T. K. Nair, National Secretary of the TOS in India,delivered an inspiring lecture on the theme, The TOS,its place and work in the theosophical world. Thegroup organised a camp to provide veterinary care tolivestock. They also presented mobility aids to needypeople and donated materials to an orphanage and aschool for mentally handicapped children.

The photographs below show some of theseactivities.

Dr Nair delivering a lecture at the livestock campmeeting. To the right is Mr J. N. Patowary, theRegional TOS President

The veterinary doctor talking about maintaininglivestock

Dispensing free veterinary medicine


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The livestock camp

The TOS group donated materials to an orphanage and a school for mentally handicapped children.

Presenting mobility aids to needy people

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