Rev. Danny Fisher

Today’s Thanksgiving-themed quote comes from Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.

Born in the Khumbu region of Nepal, Lama Zopa was recognized at a young age as the reincarnation of the Lawudo Lama.

He travelled to Tibet in 1957 to ordain as a monk and study at Dungkar Monastery.  He was forced to flee Tibet in 1959, however, immediately following the Chinese occupation of the country.

His teacher Geshe Rabten Rinpoche referred him to Lama Thubten Yeshe.  With the charismatic Lama Yeshe, Lama Zopa co-founded both the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition and Kopan Monastery.  Following Lama Yeshe’s death in 1984, Lama Zopa assumed the primary responsibility of serving as spiritual director of the FPMT.

Lama Zopa’s many books include How to Be Happy, Ultimate Healing: The Power of Compassion, Transforming Problems into Happiness, The Door to Satisfaction:  Heart Advice of a Tibetan Buddhist Master, and Dear Lama Zopa: Radical Solutions for Transforming Problems into Happiness.

Here’s the quote–tipped to us by our buddy Waylon Lewis at elephant journal:

Animals have feelings. They have the same mind as we have, and also want happiness, like we do. For example, if you suddenly touch them, they are immediately frightened. They get frightened if somebody beats or hits them with a stick. We also get frightened. If somebody throws cold water on our body, suddenly we feel a shock. It is the same for animals. They have the same mind, and it is very important what happens to them.

Even if they can’t speak, can’t express themselves, animals can show their fear through their body. For example, they try to run away. Human beings can talk and complain. They can bring court cases. Human beings can report things to the police. Human beings can do so much, but animals can’t. They can do nothing. They can’t express their suffering. Human beings can talk about their fears. Whether other people accept your suffering or not, at least you can explain it and the other person can hear. Animals can’t, but you can see how they feel from their movements. If someone tries to attacks them, they run away. They are afraid, which means they want happiness and not suffering. This is a very important point, that they have the same mind as us.