Short story: Our inner animal, or more animals, can control our lives, if we do not tame them first
By emptychair
@innertalks (23746)
Australia
February 25, 2023 10:56pm CST
Rabbi Artove Breshken, was talking to his students about the subject of everybody having an inner animal.
He said that this animalistic side of us can control our life, if we allow it to do so.
This is a part of our personalities.
We have more than one animal's characteristics within our makeup.
Our inner donkey, is the stubborn, confrontational part of us, for example.
Our inner sheep is the weaker part of us that wants to follow the crowd, and conform with that crowd, in our pursuit of material, and worldly goods, rather than our pursuing of, of the real purpose of our lives, in our pursuing of our God-given spiritual goals.
Our inner camel is the chip that we carry as a hump on our backs as well, in our wanting the world to serve us, rather than we serving it.
Our inner lion makes us think that we are the king of the castle, and can put down others, with a roar, or a snarl, when we feel angered by them, or sometimes, for no good reason at all.
These animal sides, when properly seen for what they are though, can often aid us in our lives, rather than hinder us.
The lion can show us that we possess a certain courageousness, our camel that we can ride out the bumps of life, our sheep, that we can be meek, and patient, and our donkey, that we can be sure-footed in life too.
We need to refine these animalistic parts of ourselves.
Otherwise, these animal traits of us can be instinctual, and hard therefore to control.
We need to rise above living as just mind/bodies, and live from our soul, as a spiritual being, rather than just as a human being.
We should not be content with just living from the mundaneness of our human self, but must lift ourselves up to live from our higher soul self, which is intrinsically connected to God, as well.
Mutual love, and respect, for each other, come from our living from our soul, in connection to God.
In this way, we fulfil our divine missions for God, and live a life truly worth of our living.
Photo Credit: The photo used in this article was sourced from the free media site, pexels.com
The Rabbi who advised his students to tame their animal side.
5 people like this
4 responses
@ifa225 (14468)
• Indonesia
27 Feb 23
@innertalks yes correct, it is hard to let go once you get hooked. You are lucky that you have a great parents
2 people like this
@innertalks (23746)
• Australia
26 Feb 23
Yes, we should not snap at people, and we should keep our claws withdrawn. We should be kind to all.
We should utilise the good parts of our animal side, like its strength, and endurance, but we should never let it totally control us, not even for one moment.
@Shiva49 (28402)
• Singapore
26 Feb 23
We know a few who put even wild animals to shame in the way they behave.
At least when it comes to animals, they kill to satiate their hunger.
However, we can kill even for no reason.
Powerful countries want to have the writ run in other countries too - the big brother attitude.
American exceptionalism is a case in point.
"As a term in social science, American exceptionalism refers to the United State's status as a global outlier".
It is time for us to make the switch to live a life to do justice to our higher awareness as compared to other species
We are given the option to make choices - why not use them wisely by listening to our hearts?
Our minds should be tuned to serving society rather than subjugating, needling, and provoking others.
That means base animal instincts should be channeled in the right direction.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23746)
• Australia
27 Feb 23
That quote sounds like gobbledygook to me.
I guess that it means that Americas thinks that they are the elite leaders of the world, and that their way is the right way.
They act as heavy hands in the world wanting to walk over it as elephants.
They have little time for other nations, not good at listening to the way of others.
Yes, our baser instincts, should not be allowed to drive us, as if we act as a bear, we will be hard to bear.
We need to embrace the way of love, and be gentle on others, and treat all with respect, and honour
@innertalks (23746)
• Australia
27 Feb 23
@Shiva49 The world has been fragmented ever since Adam was a boy, so nothing new there.
The ivory tower professors spout their answers, but without climbing down from their towers to get amongst the real people.
Perhaps democracy has had its day, as most democratic countries seem to be making a joke of it now.
"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'nice doggie' until you can find a rock."
Will Rogers, the American actor, (1879 to 1935) said this.
Hard to know what he meant exactly, but if we change the word 'rock', for 'tree' instead, it would have more meaning for me.
"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'nice doggie' until you can find a tree, (for it to pee on)."
@Shiva49 (28402)
• Singapore
28 Feb 23
@innertalks The big powers set the stage with provocation than diplomacy to start with.
They are consumed by self-righteousness and arms proliferation for profit.
They are suspicious of each other's motives.
They think killing others - mostly innocent civilians - will drive home their agenda.
Love and compassion towards humanity as a whole is needed but they think it will not work.
Time to think out of the box asap as history repeats itself with increasing destruction through wars and hatred.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23746)
• Australia
27 Feb 23
That's good. I can be a bit reactive sometimes, and so I need to kerb that side of me, before I react without thinking.
There was a man once, who worked with me, and was continually pestering me, calling me names, pulling my tie, flicking my ears, messing up my hair.
One day, I had to go to his floor to deliver an invoice, and he grabbed me and picked me off from the ground, bodily, and said that I was not welcome on his floor.
I had finally had enough, and I blew my top, and I slapped his face hard three times.
After that, though, I had some respect from him, and from others too, as the others knew that he had deserved it.
Until now, though, I am still annoyed with myself, that my animal side came out, and hit that man like that.
Sometimes, it takes a lot of provocation to bring out the animal in us, as for me here.
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
27 Feb 23
@innertalks I have had a few problems at work but nothing disastrous.
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