My "dogs" post of yesterday can be interpreted as expressing a great sadness. And I have to admit I wrote it in a solemn mood. But meditating on the food chain (how animals are violently killed and eaten by bigger or stronger ones) can bring on sadness. Every time I eat flesh I feel sad for the mammal, fowl, or fish that was once alive to enjoy being alive—or not to enjoy it much, if it was raised in a cage only to be slaughtered. In fact, I guess, we are in a sense all in a cage by virtue of the apparent fact that being alive today means we will die tomorrow.
"Creation" includes both pain, violence, suffering, death...and pleasure, gentleness, joy, life, however brief. I don't mind being sad about this, actually. I think that's preferable to a careless quest for laughs, thrills, distractions.
Good on all who read this, to overrunning cup.
"Native American Indians believed that a Great Spirit dwelled
ReplyDeletein all things of nature, from rocks and wind to man and animals.
That credo guided everything crafted with the intention
of giving thanks and homage to the medium or material,
whether it be a piece of wood or an entire animal hide.
Native Americans created objects that embodied a kind
of aesthetic reverence in addition to their utilitarian role.
Everything was made knowing that a part of the Great Spirit was sacrificed
for the Indian in order for the Indian to survive.
The Great Spirit required in return some kind of recognition
and appreciation manifested through the expression of the artifact."
— excerpt from Victor Leger's
"The
Environmental Adaption of the Native American Indian"
© 2006 by the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute
I very much believe as American Indians do
that we are the keepers of this planet and everything on it,
that everything has its own special purpose and energy ("spirit"),
that we should be mindful of what we do
and why and who/what/how it can affect others
(humans, animals, natural resources) on the planet.
Though I don't kill animals for food, clothing,
or shelter as our ancestors did, others obviously do this
for us and we buy those products.
So I at least probably SHOULD quietly (mentally) remember
and be thankful for each of these myself.
I don't eat a lot of meat—for many reasons, not just humane ones.
I don't buy or wear fur—even though I still think it's more natural and warmer.
We live in a world where other suitable substitute products are available.
This creates jobs.
Also, current worldwide population is such that to exploit others
(humans, animals, natural resources) could
and probably already is depleting and potentially harming
or destroying what's available on this planet.
I enjoy all things on this earth.
I hate seeing (watching) some of them disappear.
Evolution is one thing—as much
as I've always disliked the expression "dog eat dog."
Though I've had pets in the past, I don't have any now—well,
other than currently having to care for my husband's betta while he's gone. ;-)
So I consider most any creature I see or experience as one of my pets.
(Lest this be interpreted as too "soapbox-y,"
please don't hold it against me—I'm stepping off now!) ;-)
PS - I love the new background—thanks!
(I was "the good friend" who, despite my 20/10 vision,
found it challenging to read small white "swallowed-into-black-background" text
and wondered whether others did too.)
Dear Sunkat! THANK YOU for reminding us of that native American philosophy. As you know, I'm still driving my daughter's hand-me-down 1992 Honda Accord, with its bumper sticker quoting Chief Seattle: "The Earth does not belong to us; we belong to the Earth."
ReplyDeleteAlas that one interpretation of the "keepers of the planet" philosophy is that it's ours to exploit and defile in any way that benefits our short-term interests. Would that it weren't so.
Good on you.