We can also experience a sense of closeness and connectedness to animals or to nature. I think the feelings of closeness we have towards the earth or to animals can be qualitatively the same as what we feel towards other human beings. In fact, it might actually be easier for us to feel close to animals or nature, precisely because we have made human relationships so complicated. Like human babies, animals are genuinely straightforward and authentic. Animals do not play the manipulative games that adult human beings have become so adept at playing with one another. They do not engage in that sort of pretense. We can train ourselves to shake the habits of deception and manipulation that creep into our human relationships, but this will take a conscious and concerted effort. With animals, we can experience that naturally, right now. For many people, their relationship to a pet can serve as an important source of closeness and love.
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:
- Interdependent individuals
- Our intimate dependence on the natural environment
- A main condition for our selfishness
- Opening up to the view of interconnectedness
- Self-reliance
- Outer and inner world
- Everything and everyone is benefiting you
- The best way to love oneself
- When we ignore our interdependence
- Limitless aspirations
- Keeping the door to improvement open
- Freedom
- We hold nothing back
- Naturalness
- Thinking about the consequences of our collective actions
- Being an interdependent individual
- The workings of interdependence
- Becoming stuck in a quagmire of self-obsession
- Inner freedom is key
- The ability to experience genuine closeness