Many of us are moved when we see how animals behave and how they care for one another. Videos of interspecies interactions have some of the most views on the Internet. I myself enjoy watching them as well. Perhaps these videos reflect our own yearning to be able to connect across our differences. Millions of people might share a video of a dolphin and a whale playing together or a cat mothering an abandoned chick. There is something in this that fascinates us. When we watch such videos, we marvel at animals’ abilities to act against what we assume is their self-serving or self-protective impulses. We can let ourselves be inspired by their natural display of the same inner qualities we would like to cultivate.
17th Karmapa
from the book Interconnected: Embracing Life in Our Global Society
Read a random quote or see all quotes by the 17th Karmapa.
Further quotes from the book Interconnected:
- Individualism or interdependence
- Self-reliance
- The air we breathe
- Naturalness
- The deeper common ground all living being share
- Everything and everyone is benefiting you
- The imagination to see the other as free and happy
- Inner conditions of interdependence
- The interdependence between us and the world
- The impulse to connect
- Cultivating a spirit of generosity
- Interdependent individuals
- A greater sense of possibility
- Interdependence always works both ways
- Our innate ability to connect with others
- Thinking about the consequences of our collective actions
- Collective actions and attitudes
- Viewing others through the lens of interdependence
- Our intimate dependence on the natural environment
- Extend yourself and connect