Spirituality

Spiritual lessons we can learn from our Dogs.

Can we learn from animals? If you ask someone who owns a pet or two, they will second that thought. They will say that animals enrich their life, and they learn something new from their pets every day. The dog is considered man’s best friend, and apart from being a great pet, they have a close connection with the spiritual world. Let’s explore it.  

Dogs in civilizations

In Tantra, Lord Bhairava, a fierce form of Lord Shiva, is accompanied by the dog to symbolise constant vigilance. Lord Dattatreya was accompanied by four dogs, representing one Veda each. For ancient Native American tribes, dogs were an integral part of their lives. Dogs were like their tribe members, accompanying them as guides, hunting and travelling. Many tribes associated dogs with a symbol of unconditional love, protection, loyalty, and bravery.

Japanese consider dogs as a representation of diligence, devotion, and honor. You will find the dog sculptures at the entrance of Shinto temples, known as Komainu, the guardian spirits. North Koreans have given an honourable place to the dogs. The national symbol of North Korea is the Pungsan dog. Ancient Egyptians who built the legendary pyramids treated the dogs as a symbol of nobility. The mighty god Anubis was known as the god of death and the afterlife.  

Spiritual lessons the dogs teach us.

Being in the moment.

Have you ever observed what variety of thoughts passes through our minds in one minute? And now imagine what the dog must be thinking in that one minute? By looking at their innocent faces, you know they are not thinking about anything. No remorse for the past or no future to worry about. They are just in the present. What a simplistic life it must be. Indeed, dogs teach us to be in the present, enjoy being fully present and attentive, and use all of our senses.

Santosha (Contentment).

In Patanjali’s Ashtanga (eight limbs) Yoga, one of the Niyama (rules) is in complete contentment. When your cup is full in the right amount, you feel full. When your basic needs are fulfilled adequately, you feel content. Dogs have an exceptional quality of being content. May his owner be a rich person or poor; he is always satisfied with what he gets from his owner. By accepting the reality, they keep on living their life with Santosha. And this is something we should learn from these canines.   

Impartiality.

Spirituality says that love and fear are the roots of other emotions. Dogs have different processes of classifying good and evil, likes and dislikes, safety and danger. They calculate it through the lens of love and fear, simplifying their judgement. When we see others with shades of judgement, we entangle ourselves in the webs of complex emotions, leading to emotional exhaustion. When we see life in simple colours of love more and less fear, things become easy for us and emotionally less exhaustive.

Flexibility.

Those who bend do not break. Life is all about twists, turns, and unexpected stops. The more you are adopted, the more you are happy in life. Have you ever adopted a dog? Just watch how it embraces the new house, food, and people living in it. The dog will say, sure, the bed is fine. No bed? Sure, I’ll sleep beside the couch. No specialised dog food? No problem, ill has what you are having for lunch. No matter what life throws at them, they always remain upbeat, happy, excited, and helpful.

Unconditional Love.

Dogs and unconditional love are synonyms. No other animal will love, adore or even worship its owner the way dogs do. With innocence, they will welcome you in their hearts. Whether you are rich or poor, young or old, man or woman, these canines will hold you high on a pedestal. As long as you both trust each other, they will always be satisfied.

Just like it, when a seeker experiences an awakening, they shall undergo a steady and gentle stream of unexplained love towards everyone, irrespective of gender, country, religion, and even well beyond their views on you. To experience this, one needs to be a spiritual practitioner for a long time, but dogs remind you how it shall be done in their own sweet non-judgemental way.      

Loyalty.

Suppose you had owned a dog for a longer time, you know, that it had seen you when you were at your best and worst. Dogs know you better than anyone else in the world. They are your number one fan providing unconditional support, and they are experts in forgiving and forgetting whenever you are mean to them. Honouring a commitment is loyalty, and it goes well beyond the distractions, cravings, aversions, and inducements.

If you are loyal to your path, it makes you optimistic. It teaches you to look for the positive side, opening you to the upcoming knowledge. We receive love, wisdom, and freedom when we feel unconditional loyalty or adherence to our spiritual Guru.

We hope you have gained some new insight into the close relationship between spirituality and dogs. When playing with your dog, try to analyse how you feel with awareness. Note down their qualities that will inspire you. Please share with us in the comments below.

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