Creature-liness

   I once heard the expression "creaturely" to describe that which is created--usually an animal, since we don't normally refer to humans as "creatures". But the creaturely entails a creator, and I think that it evokes the idea that even when we are not actively creating conditions, we still belong in the universe. We all have a special spirit and place.

Just today, I was sitting on a park bench before the U of T group meditation, quite occupied with a recent change in position at my work--wondering whether things will work out and whether I made the right decision in accepting the new position. Just as I was lost in deep thought (though not very constructive--more rationalizing to myself), I heard this kind of distinct crunching sound, which actually reminded me of the days when I had a pet rabbit and it ate a lot of grass while I was sleeping at night. When I turned around, I indeed saw a very large grey rabbit in the bushes feeding contentedly on this large grass that looked like green onion. For a moment, I wondered if the rabbit had been a stray pet, or perhaps had even escaped from a science lab near the University of Toronto, but then it also dawned on me that the campus would be a safe haven for such animals, since there are no predators around, and students are certainly pacifists for the most part!

My relationship to the animal world: it's often been the case that when I am lost in thought or have some mental entanglement, an animal of some kind will appear to me from somewhere, reminding me of many things. Firstly, animals don't seem to fuss the way humans do. They eat when they need to, keep out of trouble for the most part, and probably don't think a lot about personal success or failure. Secondly, animals remind me that we are all just temporary guests in this world. I don't know where this rabbit will go in the cold wintertime, and perhaps it doesn't either, but an animal functions in a way that it is completely present with what is, and there is no assumption of tomorrow. Thirdly, the animal world reminds me of belonging. An animal simply does not need to compare itself to others or worry about things like identity, purpose, salary and the like. Humans certainly have to do so, but sometimes it's at the expense of their own humanity that they will get caught up in things that are actually quite fleeting. 

At the end of the day, we are all subject to our biology or our karma, and for this reason we sometimes have to make our hearts simpler and more pure--perhaps less grasping. I think animals truly are spirit beings that have a great value to humans, and we should always protect the animal world at every cost. This is not only because they teach us so many things about ourselves, but also because they teach us about the intrinsic value and worth of all life.