62. Report - Experiences with animals

 

At the very beginning of the journey, I was bitten by a Scolopendra, a kind of caterpillar, in a temple for several nights. The priest in the temple told me to pray to understand the meaning of this attack. – Hm. I had resolved to treat animals with more respect. Especially with unloved ones.

 

.....

 

From the middle part of India you see more buffalo. I like them because they carry their heads confidently, almost a little aggressively. Their milk is fattier, more nutritious. - Cows are sacred to Hindus and in rural areas you can see them on every street, in many fields, in front of houses, sometimes they stick their heads in doors. I'm discovering more and more how good the peace and quiet of the cows is for me. One could say that their energy has a therapeutic effect on me.

 

.....

 

I find that I sleep best outside in the open air. But sometimes there are too many insects. Once I unrolled my bed mats and was ready to sleep. But suddenly there are many small bugs around my sleeping place. Cute bugs, but some crawl over my pillow. – I sense deep dislike. Unfortunately!? - Later, when the lights are turned off in front of the temple, it gets better.

 

.....

 

Once, at a peaceful temple in the forest, I wake up several times to the rustling of my bed for the night. I turn on the light and see nothing. But it keeps rustling. Then I discover them: frogs! Uhhhhh... - I slip a plastic bag over my hand, grab them and throw them as far into the forest as possible. – The next morning my chapals were gone. Was this the revenge of the frogs?

 

.....

 

I was able to spend several days in a Gopala Krishna Ashram. The guest house was built entirely of cow dung: a wonderfully friendly, healthy atmosphere prevailed in the rooms. – I should be careful with the cows, because some are said to be very idiosyncratic. But this warning made me feel a bit scared - I wasn't completely relaxed anymore!

 

I think we have to be very careful with warnings, because most warnings tend to cause undue concern, sometimes even totally misplaced fears.

 

.....

 

What was still not nice in this Krishna ashram: the dog had bitten my water bottle. Why that? – Hm. It was already old and green deposits sometimes formed on the inside. In the end, was the dog a tool that I should buy a new bottle? - Could be.

 

.....

 

That peaceful dog who, without warning, bit my leg on the Maharashtra-Gujarat border... strange. Why this? Maybe it was an internal test of staying upset or scared or relaxed. In any case, I stayed calm and just looked questioningly at the guiltily looking dog.

 

.....

 

A few days ago I had two tingling sensations at night. With the flashlight I spotted the lover on the run: a mouse had just run over my shoulder. I was happy to realize that it wasn't really that bad and continued to sleep well.

 

.....

 

Despite these small successes in dealing with animals, it is not easy for me to overcome my fear of contact with them. In my head I am tenderly convinced that all animals are clean and good in their own way and that my disgust is merely the product of upbringing. – I want to learn to be able to touch animals, including insects, in a relaxed manner. At least I want to be able to let her sit peacefully on my body. Yesterday I had a young cow lick my hand. It was nice. I felt good inside too.

 

.....

 

The good energy in oneself is not only transferred to other people, but also to animals. – In Gujarat and also here in Rajasthan, as in all of India, there are many dogs. But here they very rarely bark - most just remain relaxed when I walk past them. - Why? I have two answers for that. Either the people here are more peaceful and transfer this to the animals, or I've become calmer inside and the animals feel it. Probably both. Either way: our inner being has a great influence on how the environment reacts to us.

 

In some areas I was warned about tigers and not allowed to go through those areas. I honestly feel that my fear of encountering a free-roaming tiger has diminished to a low level. If he's really hungry or feels threatened by me, he may tear me apart. If that is not the case and I look at him with benevolent wonder (I ask God for mercy) and feel a friendly joy in my heart for the encounter, stay calm and smile peacefully - why, please, why should a tiger attack me? The problem is usually our fear or greed for profit, but not the animal.