Soul to soul

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Something caught my attention after the last post about Ginger and other animals destined for a life in Greece. My eyes went to the words I've placed under the blog title. "Animals share with us the privilege of having a soul." A wonderful quote by the great Greek philosopher Pythagoras.

I onced asked a Canadian woman running an animal shelter in Athens what the Greek makes of the quote by Gandhi "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." She told me that they most probably wouldn't know who he is! - and that all they learn about in school is ancient Greece, Greece being the birth place of democracy and of their great philosophic forefathers like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and Pythagoras. I don't feel antagonistic toward the Greeks, as a matter of fact I think they are a beautiful people (not easily equatable with indifference or cruelty to animals), but I would be tempted to ask the question what they then make of the quote by their forefather Pythagoras???

The wise man who taugth me about the term Gods little people also taugth to never inflict more than 10% pain to any living creature. It had such a deep resonance in me. It must ring true in any soulful creature. So... Well, deliberate ignorance is one thing but there is also such a thing as when you see a problem and choose not to act or respond you also position yourself. Until you decide to respond... you actually also decide not to respond. And indifference to a problem can also mean inflicting more than 10% pain.

Shakesphere said "The eyes are the windows to the soul." I truly believe that if you look into the eyes of  an animal you can see the soul. Doesn't that call out for something in you? If nothing else, then just soul to soul.

Image ©johnydaystudio at Flickr