Be Kind to Animals Week: The True Spirit of Humanity, Part 1 of 2

The nonprofit organization American Humane initiated Be Kind to Animals Week in 1915. It has been observed at the beginning of May every year since 1973, promoting more compassionate relationships with all animal-people. Let’s participate by sharing some heartwarming stories about selfless human beings who came to the rescue when someone from another species was in a desperate situation.

Climate change and other environmental catastrophes caused by humans have impacted the well-being of us animal-people, making it harder for us to live in peace. When a natural disaster occurs, it’s not only humans who suffer; we animal-people do too. In July 2021, as a terrible wildfire burned through 14,000 hectares of Russia’s Chelyabinsk region, firefighters saved a terrified deer-person baby who was crying for help. Such benevolence is like a precious jewel that we will always treasure.

An additional aspect of kindness to animal-people is respect for the vast oceans on Earth. In June 2020, near the Italian island of Lipari, a sperm whale-person’s tail was helplessly entangled in a discarded net. Researchers from a local conservation association discovered the struggling cetacean-person and contacted the Italian Coast Guard. It took about two hours for rescue divers to slice away the constraining cords completely.

“Whoever saves a single life is considered by scripture to have saved the whole world.” This famous quote from the Jewish Talmud applies perfectly to all these saviors of our precious co-inhabitants. We offer our compliments and deep appreciation for their noble deeds. The world does indeed need saving at this time, and perhaps it will require all of humanity to embrace such righteousness.

On October 18, 2009, there was a conference with Supreme Master Ching Hai at the 61st Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany. She made the following emotional appeal to the audience regarding the correct way for humans to live their lives. “We have to create Heaven; otherwise, we don’t have it. That’s all I can say. We have to protect others; otherwise, we cannot expect protection. We must live as an honorable, dignified, worthy being that’s called human – the crown of the creation.”