By Harold Klemp
People who are new to Eckankar are sometimes surprised when they hear us refer to cats and dogs as Soul. In ECK, we regard our pets as Soul. Why? Because they are.
They’re a creation of God—just as surely as we are. When a cat translates, or dies, something leaves just as surely as when a human being dies. When a baby takes its first breath of life, something comes in. This happens just as surely as in a kitten.
Human vanity likes to say, “God made us and put a Soul in us,” as if you can possess Soul. But in Eckankar, we say, “We are Soul.” We are Soul, and through successive lifetimes, we take on a body for whatever experiences we need that time. Sometimes it’s a male body, sometimes a female body.
We don’t get into transmigration where we go back down the spiritual evolutionary scale to the animal or mineral state. That’s lifetimes and lifetimes past. But it also doesn’t mean that this evolutionary scale goes straight up—or that it goes from plant to animal to human, where people can look down at their dog or cat and say, “Well, you are Soul, but I am a greater Soul because I am human. You still mess on the floor.”
Nonjudgmental Pets
Some animals—I would say a great number of animals—probably have a higher state of consciousness than their owners.
People go to work. They become angry, they cheat if they can, and they indulge themselves in things that hurt both their physical body and other people who are dear to them. Then they come home, and the cat is always there, the dog is always there.
Treat your pets right, and they’ll always love. They don’t look at you with the eyes of judgment, saying, “You’ve got alcohol on your breath again.” Cats and dogs won’t do that to you. They’ll love you even if you’ve just had Limburger cheese. They’ll probably want some. “Just pet me, and let me sit in your lap,” they say. “Be kind and good to me.”
Cats and dogs are very nonjudgmental. In this way, they’re often superior to human beings.
We see somebody who is bumping the electric fence, a little bit out of rhythm of life according to our idea of what the rhythm of life is, and we say, “This person is doing so-and-so. That person’s head is sticking up about one head taller than everybody else in this social group.” That is the social consciousness speaking. We get very self-righteous about our opinions. We think we are always walking around in shining clothes and other people are always walking around in dirty rags. We are special.
Well, dogs and cats don’t mind. Especially dogs. To dogs, their owners are always walking around in shining clothes, because they’re always giving out food.
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Adapted from The Secret of Love, Mahanta Transcripts, Book 14, by Harold Klemp
Just ‘woke’ from a ‘long’ dream with my dear papillon…who departed from the physical over 3 years ago. ‘He’ was giving me instructions on not having a problem with ‘messing’ on the floor…”disclipine” wise ~ as my papillon telepathically put it ~ more than me, he thought @ the moment…That comment of ‘his’ woke me up!
Thanks Harold. I love and become more loving because of these wonderful companions in my life. Hearing these stories from unique perceptions is a help along this journey.
My dog would agree that owners who give her food are good. So funny and true! Same goes for my cats. Purrrrfect!
It’s nice to know that someone else has come to the same conclusion I have. The Universe brought a cat into my life which I had no plans for. It turned into the most beautiful and spiritually uplifting 7 years in my 60+ year life. She recently had to exit this dimension but she is still having a profound effect on my personal spiritual journey. I miss my friend but I will always be grateful that I was blessed to spend time with this dear soul.
Such beautiful stories to warm my heart. Our pets are so precious and they are a daily reminder to us what unconditional love should be. Thanks to the teachings of ECK that I have a greater understanding of myself and others as Soul that wonderful spark of God.
Dog is God spelled backwards…………….
I have been thinking that very thing recently. This is my first exploration of Eckankar, and I am drawn to learn more. The attitude towards animals, which I did not know about until 30 minutes ago, is very important to me.
Animals can teach us the highest spiritual laws, and like the spiritual masters, are patient.
beautiful stories about soul, animal souls, thank you! for the Love!