Time will come...
Concerning the Animals
Abstain from harassing and imprisoning, abusing or killing
domestic or wild animals, birds and fish, for recreational purposes whenever
you go on trips to enjoy the fields, lakes and rivers, or in obstinate and
bloody sportive tournaments.
There are amusements that are true crimes in disguise.
In dealing with the animals to which you devote esteem,
control the impulses of over protection and care, in order not to fall into
obsessive excesses under the pretext of loving them.
All passion blinds the soul.
Avoid any cruelty towards the animals. Do not make
unreasonable demands in order to satisfy your dietary whims nor in the
reprehensible refinements of laboratory research. Restrict your actions simply
to the natural necessities of life and to the imperatives of that which is just
and righteous.
Use edifies, abuse destroys.
Oppose overworking the animals without offering to them a
more comprehensive assistance.
Gratitude also demonstrates justice.
When helping the sick animals, use all possible therapeutic
resources, without neglecting even those of a spiritual nature that would apply in their own behalf.
The light of goodness
should illuminate all realms of life.
Support, as much as possible, the movements and the
organizations of animal protection, through acts of Christian benevolence and
human understanding.
All animals align with us in the condition of need before
the law.
“Let all that you do be done with charity.” 1 Corinthians
16:14
VIEIRA,
Waldo. “Perante os Animais”. Conduta Espírita. By the spirit André Luiz. Rio de
Janeiro: FEB, 2011.75-78. PDF.
1 Corinthians 16”. Bible Hub. King James Bible n.d. Web.
2011.
Our Responsibility towards the Animals
When asked about the suffering of animals, Chico Xavier replied:
"Our
spiritual benefactors enlighten us that we need to consider that all animals,
in their diversity - surrounding human beings in evolution on the planet Earth
- are our Lesser Brothers, developing within their own intelligence.
If we humans
have already reached the domain of intelligence and now we are developing our
intuitive potentialities, the animals, in turn, are improving gradually their
instincts, seeking for intelligence.
Just as we
humans aspire to someday reach the degree of pure spirits [angels],personified
by our Master and Lord Jesus, the animals also aspire to be intelligent and
free human beings in the distant future.
We may
consider ourselves as older and more experienced brothers of the animals.
Now, if we
already know that the divine law has established Solidarity[1]
among all beings, we can easily conclude that God has bestowed us humans the
guidance and the protection of our younger brothers, the animals.
And, what
are we doing with this sacred responsibility of protecting and guiding the
animal kingdom?
How is this
terrestrial Humanity acting towards them, throughout the centuries of our
history?
Have we not
perhaps converted ourselves into merciless tormentors of animals, rather than
their faithful protectors?
Who ignores
that the cow suffers immensely on its way to the slaughterhouse?
Who does not
know that, minutes before the fatal blow, the cattle shed tears of anguish?
Have we not
extensively trained certain breeds of dogs to attack and kill?
What to say
of the cruel hunting of birds and wild animals solely for the sport of
pleasure?
What to say
of the meaningless environmental destruction?
All this
boils down to serious responsibility for humans!
The anxiety,
the fear and the hatred that we provoke on them, alters their spiritual
principle natural equilibrium, determining subsequent adjustments in future
existences [incarnations], which are manifested as congenital deformities.
The greatest
responsibility will fall upon us because, due to our deviant passions, we have
not guided the animals through the path of love and progress, according to
God’s Will.”
From the
book "Mandato de Amor" (Mandate of Love), by Francisco C. Xavier
The Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness - July 7, 2012
“The absence of a neocortex does not appear to preclude an organism from experiencing affective states. Convergent evidence indicates that non-human animals have the neuroanatomical, neurochemical, and neurophysiological substrates of conscious states along with the capacity to exhibit intentional behaviors. Consequently, the weight of evidence indicates that humans are not unique in possessing the neurological substrates that generate consciousness. Nonhuman animals, including all mammals and birds, and many other creatures, including octopuses, also possess these neurological substrates.”
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