Do Animals have Souls?

[RAINBOWCOLOURS]

A mind-bending journey into the deeper dimensions of animal consciousness
by Ross Robertson

One day when yoga instructor Kari Harendorf was practicing backbends, her dog Charlie padded over and started stretching out beneath her on the hardwood floor. In a flash of insight that may or may not recall some ancient yogic pioneer’s moment of inspiration for Downward and Upward Dog, the modern-day discipline of doga was born. Doga, or doggy yoga—“the path to enlightenment for humans and their pets”—is the subject of Animal Planet’s new show “K9 Karma,” cohosted by Kari and Charlie; it’s also the topic of recent books like Bow Wow Yoga and Doga: Yoga for Dogs. “My relationship with Charlie is definitely special,” Harendorf says. “It’s intangible, and it goes beyond language, beyond a species barrier. He’s just . . . he holds my heart, and I hold his.”

From man’s best friend to man’s soul mate and..........

http://www.wie.org/j32/animal-souls.asp?page=1

 

[Mama San]

One of man’s best friends......... a big definite yes!!!
Man's soul mate? No!

in:
Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

No where in the Bible does it say that any animal was/is/or ever will be a living soul!

God bless,
Mama san

 

[nava]

i think animals have souls
god created them also therefore breathing life into them
just because the bible does not state it doesn't mean it's not a given

 

[ORANGATUANG]

Oh yes i do believe animals have souls ...

 

[Slowhand]

In term of Bouddhism, no one got soul (neither humans or animals), but according to Dharma animals are part of born/death cycle as us.

You could be a human in one life and an animal in an other one, so a dog could remind yogic posture from former life...

May you be enlighted soon friends !!!

 

[Mama San]

Reincarnation?
Oh my!
You all must believe as you wish to believe.
I must believe as I must believe.
God bless,
Mama san

 

[Jules]

God's word IS very enlightening. It does mention how God gave man a soul. I went to blueletterbible.com and looked up "soul of man." I found several verses that state man has a soul. Here are a few: Genesis 2:7, Numbers 30:2, Psalms 89:68, and Romans 2:9.
Hebrews 9:27 talks about how man is "appointed once to die..."

When ever I have a question, I look it up in the bible. God pretty much covered everything.

 

[SeagalFanMike]

Anything is possible...

In regards to this question I can share with you all my view on this. I niether know if animals ( or humans) do or dont have a soul, for there is no way to answer this with rock hard proof. However I do personally have the idea that everything is energy, and animals as well as humans share the same universal life force that is in all things. Whether you call it a Soul or Chi,..I honestly think its alot like "Tomato, toe-mate-toe/toe-mot-toe"
-Peace-
Mike

 

[latinojazz]

A mind-bending journey into the deeper dimensions of animal consciousness
by Ross Robertson

One day when yoga instructor Kari Harendorf was practicing backbends, her dog Charlie padded over and started stretching out beneath her on the hardwood floor. In a flash of insight that may or may not recall some ancient yogic pioneer’s moment of inspiration for Downward and Upward Dog, the modern-day discipline of doga was born. Doga, or doggy yoga—“the path to enlightenment for humans and their pets”—is the subject of Animal Planet’s new show “K9 Karma,” cohosted by Kari and Charlie; it’s also the topic of recent books like Bow Wow Yoga and Doga: Yoga for Dogs. “My relationship with Charlie is definitely special,” Harendorf says. “It’s intangible, and it goes beyond language, beyond a species barrier. He’s just . . . he holds my heart, and I hold his.”

From man’s best friend to man’s soul mate and..........

http://www.wie.org/j32/animal-souls.asp?page=1

I think that If men have soul his loved pets are ¨blessed¨by them giving the soul breath.

 

[Jalu]

Let' s first define soul. We Buddhists do not believe in the soul, as this word implies a breath of live given by a higher being or a creator. This idea goes against the Law of Karma-cause and effect. However we do believe that all sentient beings have conciousness. Therefore if one were to compare consciousness to the soul, then one would have to say that animals have souls.


Animal
Among the six states (Jpn. Rokudo) through which we are said to transmigrate is the state of animals, which includes birds and insects.

It is said that if a person who was born as a human does not keep moral laws and does not believe in the law of cause and effect, he or she will be born in this animal state and have to suffer a long time.

You might think that this idea discriminates against animals; but in reality, it does exactly the opposite.

In the famous Jakatas, the stories of the former lives of Shakyamuni, he appears as all sorts of animals and practices various good deeds. As a result, he is born into this world as a human with the name Gautama Siddhartha. So this way of thinking insists that even animals, if they make the effort, can be born as humans, attain enlightenment, and become Buddhas.

Thus, Buddhism considers humans and animals equally. If we think this way, we can feel great compassion towards animals.

Life Through the Power of the Buddha
- 108 Mini-Essays of Meditation -
Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai



Rokudo: Literally, six ways, six lower states of existence, i.e., hell, the realms of hungry spirits, animals, asuras, men, and heavenly beings.

Transmigrate: Humans are reborn into one of six states of existence according to their karma.

 

[Slowhand]

Hey Jalu,

You seems to be well aware !!!

That's exactly true, I totally agree.

Have you read Bodhicharyavatara of Shantideva ?

I'm keen of this book, it's a spring of great teatchings !!!

May you be enlighted soon !!!

 

[ilona]

Hi Jalu and Nathanael,
I'm also agreed with what you says...it's good to see peoples with a good mind and a good knowledge of Buddhism. The world would be better if more peoples had this spirituality.
We can try to change the mentalities slowly and gently.
Peace my friends.
Ilona

 

[ilona]

Hi Jalu and Nathanael,
I'm also agreed with what you says...it's good to see peoples with a good mind and a good knowledge of Buddhism. The world would be better if more peoples had this spirituality.
We can try to change the mentalities slowly and gently.
Peace my friends.
Ilona

 

[Jules]

For me...I am not a Buddhist. I am a Christian. I have always been taught we should be Christ like. That people should see Jesus in me. When I speak I have to always remind myself, "Is what I am saying loving and kind? Would Jesus Christ say this?" I must admit sometimes the sinful nature gets in the way. It is a daily spiritual battle. The more I dig in to Gods word, the Bible, the more I seem to be in line with what God has for my life and the more I live the way Jesus Christ would want me to with words and actions by following Gods words and teachings.

I have seen people no matter what faith they have be anything BUT kind and gentle. That is the sinful nature rearing it's ugly head.

With much love and respect,
Jules
Galatians 2:20

 

[Donald Lee Wilkey]

Ofcourse beasts have spirits, come on, wakey wakey, r u in there ????

"Go out and preach the gospel to every living creature on earth", Jesus Christ, from The Book of Mormon

Horses can count numbers with their hooves, dogs can capiche' "roll over" & "sit", cats can comprende' "here kitty kitty kitty kitty ", dolphins protect humans from sharks, and much more from other beautiful beasts of the earth

 

[Mama San]

For me...I am not a Buddhist. I am a Christian. I have always been taught we should be Christ like. That people should see Jesus in me. When I speak I have to always remind myself, "Is what I am saying loving and kind? Would Jesus Christ say this?" I must admit sometimes the sinful nature gets in the way. It is a daily spiritual battle. The more I dig in to Gods word, the Bible, the more I seem to be in line with what God has for my life and the more I live the way Jesus Christ would want me to with words and actions by following Gods words and teachings.

I have seen people no matter what faith they have be anything BUT kind and gentle. That is the sinful nature rearing it's ugly head.

With much love and respect,
Jules
Galatians 2:20

Amen, Jules!!
God bless,
Mama san

 

[Mama San]

Ofcourse beasts have spirits, come on, wakey wakey, r u in there ????

"Go out and preach the gospel to every living creature on earth", Jesus Christ

Horses can count numbers with their hooves, dogs can capiche' "roll over", "sit", cats can comprende' "here kitty kitty kitty kitty ", dolphins protect humans from sharks, and much more from other beautiful beasts of the earth

"Go out and preach the gospel to every living creature on earth", Jesus Christ

This statement is not in the Bible, that I can find. Therefore, Jesus did not say it.
However, I did find these and they are quotes from the Bible.

Matthew 28:
18: And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth.
19: Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:
20: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Mark 16:
15: And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
16: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.

Luke 24:
46: and He said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day;
47: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

I believe, in all the verses, He was speaking of people not any of the lower life forms!

As for the horses, dogs & kitties, etc......... They are "trained"! But they can only be "trained" so far. Robots can be programed to do just about anything but they have NO SOUL.

I have showed you all that I can. I'm sorry but
the only thing left is for me to follow the scripture
that tells me to leave this thread and not return.
I mean no disrespect to anyone but I fear I
waste my time and energy here.

From: King James Version
Matthew 7:5-7
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

God bless,
Mama san

 

[KimonoSoul]

St. Francis of Assisi had a way with the critters.....


I think it's pretty damn arrogant of us humans to think we are above all other living things. A living thing is a living thing be it a dog, an icky cockroach, a tree, a blade of grass, or a human.

 

[Donald Lee Wilkey]

"Go out and preach the gospel to every living creature on earth", Jesus Christ

This statement is not in the Bible, that I can find. Therefore, Jesus did not say it.
However, I did find these and they are quotes from the Bible.

Matthew 28:
18: And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth.
19: Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:
20: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Mark 16:
15: And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
16: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.

Luke 24:
46: and He said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day;
47: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

I believe, in all the verses, He was speaking of people not any of the lower life forms!

As for the horses, dogs & kitties, etc......... They are "trained"! But they can only be "trained" so far. Robots can be programed to do just about anything but they have NO SOUL.

I have showed you all that I can. I'm sorry but
the only thing left is for me to follow the scripture
that tells me to leave this thread and not return.
I mean no disrespect to anyone but I fear I
waste my time and energy here.

From: King James Version
Matthew 7:5-7
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

God bless,
Mama san

Sad, very sad

 

[Jules]

What is sad? What God has to say in the bible? If you have a problem with it then that is between you and God, the Creator of heaven and earth. Not much anyone can say beyond that.

I was looking through the posts. I did some searching. I don't see anywhere on whether animals do or do not have a soul.

I was reading in the book of Genesis in the beginning of the bible. It starts talking about the six days God took to make heaven, earth, and every living thing on earth; including man. I found these verses that DO answer some of the comments given:

Genesis 1:26: "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." (NKJ version)

Then in Matthew in the bible Jesus says about worrying:
Matthew 6:25 & 26: "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink: nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ( V 26) "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more value than they?"

Not my words, but the words of God of the bible. With much love and respect.

Jules

 

[GlimmerMan]

I have a question. Does it matter?

I believe my pussy cat has definitely got soul. When I put some James Brown on the stereo, she rocks to the rhythm baby!

Don - I got your back buddy!

 

[Kookie1980]

Very cute G-Man!

xxx