The importance of animals in human lives differs greatly from one person to another, especially from one culture to the other. Animals of all kinds have always been omnipresent for mankind – for the purposes of domestication, as workers, as companions, as tools or as resources in the form of food for consuming. They appear in ancient cave paintings, and nowadays on commercial farms. As long as humanity existed, animals have always played an important role and society could not have advanced to the point it has today.
Nevertheless, there are different perceptions of animals and how they are treated. A popular instance is the case of dogs. In some cultures, like the United States or the United Kingdom, they are loved and considered a great pet to have with the family and at home. In other cultures, such as those where Islam is the majority religion, dogs may be perceived as dirty or dangerous. In China, milk-fed puppies are considered a delicacy.
So why do human beings assign different levels of importance to animals? In Hinduism, every single living being possesses a soul, from the animals down to the insects and tiny organisms. In their belief system, like human beings, animals are also beings and subject to the cycle of birth and death and the laws of nature. Hinduism is a compassionate religion and treats all living beings with great respect. This could be one explanation why animals occupy an important place in Hinduism.
According to that, Hindus have special feelings about animals and treat them in another way then people of other religions and cultures do. A widespread view of Jains, Buddhists and Hindus is that animals should not be used by humans as food or for other purposes. Differing attitudes and beliefs regarding the relationship of humankind to other creatures lies in the inner motivation of how to see and treat them and is expressed in forms of emotions and feelings towards the animals. Therefore, the human-animal-relationship, in a Hinduist way of life, depends on their belief system and hence emotions and feelings are coherent with that. Accordingly, faith determines how these people, who belong to the oldest religion in the world, feel about animals.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 About Emotions and Feelings
- 2.1 Emotion
- 2.2 Feeling
- 3 Hinduism
- 3.1 The Hindu Way of Life
- 4 Animals in Hinduism
- 4.1 Status of Animals
- 4.2 Treatment of Animals
- 4.3 Sacred Animals in Hinduism: The Cow
- 5 Conclusion
- 6 Works cited
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to explore the feelings of Hindus towards animals, their origins, and their expression in animal treatment. It investigates the status of animals within Hinduism, focusing specifically on the cow as a sacred animal. The study also provides a brief overview of Hinduism to contextualize the emotional and spiritual relationship between Hindus and animals.
- The role of emotions and feelings in shaping human-animal interactions within Hinduism.
- The status and treatment of animals in Hindu society.
- The significance of sacred animals, particularly the cow, in Hindu culture.
- The connection between Hindu beliefs and their emotional responses towards animals.
- A comparison of Hindu attitudes towards animals with those of other cultures.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the diverse human-animal relationships across cultures, highlighting the contrasting views on animal treatment. It uses examples like the varying perceptions of dogs in different societies to illustrate this diversity. The chapter introduces Hinduism as a religion with a unique perspective on animals, rooted in the belief that all living beings possess a soul. This belief forms the foundation for the respectful treatment of animals within the Hindu faith, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of Hindu feelings toward animals and their expression in practice. The chapter concludes by stating the paper's objective: to examine how Hindus feel about animals, where these feelings originate, and how they are expressed in their treatment, with a specific focus on the cow as a sacred animal. The significance of understanding the terms "emotion" and "feeling" is emphasized, preparing the reader for their later discussion in the context of the human-animal relationship in Hinduism.
2 About Emotions and Feelings: This chapter delves into the nuances of emotions and feelings, clarifying the distinction between these two often-interchangeable terms. It defines emotions as strong feelings like love, fear, or anger, originating from the Latin word "emovere," meaning "to transfer." Feelings, on the other hand, are described as interpretations of emotions within the brain, assigning meaning and influenced by personal experiences. The chapter emphasizes that while distinct, emotions and feelings are deeply interconnected, highlighting their crucial role in understanding the Hindu approach to the human-animal relationship. The chapter lays the groundwork for understanding how the emotional landscape of Hinduism shapes its treatment of animals. This understanding of feelings and emotions is essential to interpreting Hindu actions and attitudes towards animals in the subsequent chapters.
Keywords
Hinduism, animals, emotions, feelings, sacred animals, cow, human-animal relationship, religious beliefs, cultural attitudes, treatment of animals, belief systems.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper explores the feelings of Hindus towards animals, the origins of these feelings, and how they are expressed in the treatment of animals. It focuses specifically on the status of animals within Hinduism, with a particular emphasis on the cow as a sacred animal. The study also provides context by briefly outlining Hinduism.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the role of emotions and feelings in shaping human-animal interactions within Hinduism; the status and treatment of animals in Hindu society; the significance of sacred animals, especially the cow; the connection between Hindu beliefs and emotional responses towards animals; and a comparison of Hindu attitudes towards animals with those of other cultures.
What is the difference between "emotion" and "feeling" as defined in the paper?
The paper clarifies that emotions are strong feelings (like love, fear, or anger) stemming from the Latin word "emovere" (to move). Feelings are interpretations of emotions within the brain, assigning meaning and shaped by personal experiences. While distinct, they are deeply interconnected.
How does the paper structure its exploration of Hindu attitudes towards animals?
The paper begins with an introduction highlighting diverse human-animal relationships across cultures and establishing Hinduism's unique perspective. It then delves into the concepts of emotion and feeling. Subsequent chapters examine the status and treatment of animals in Hinduism, with a specific focus on the cow as a sacred animal. The paper concludes with a summary of its findings.
What is the significance of the cow in Hinduism, according to this paper?
The cow holds a significant position as a sacred animal within Hindu culture. The paper specifically focuses on the cow to illustrate the emotional and spiritual relationship between Hindus and animals, and how this relationship manifests in their treatment of animals.
What chapters are included in the paper, and what do they cover?
The paper includes chapters on: Introduction (establishing the topic and diverse human-animal relationships), About Emotions and Feelings (defining key terms), Hinduism (providing context), Animals in Hinduism (exploring the status and treatment of animals, focusing on the cow), Conclusion, and Works Cited.
What is the overall objective of this research?
The paper aims to understand how Hindus feel about animals, where these feelings originate, and how they are expressed in their treatment of animals. This is done with a special focus on the sacred cow and the role of emotions and feelings within this context.
What keywords are associated with this paper?
Keywords include: Hinduism, animals, emotions, feelings, sacred animals, cow, human-animal relationship, religious beliefs, cultural attitudes, treatment of animals, and belief systems.
- Quote paper
- Janine Bergmeir (Author), 2018, How practitioners of Hinduism feel about animals, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/453347
