I was surprised by a post recently, a quote by Swami Govindananda which stated "What makes our life so precious? The human mind is so elevated that in contrast to other creatures, humans can think of greater concepts than just eating, sleeping, fearing and mating. While the lower creatures simply exist, human beings have the option to live significantly." My immediate thoughts were along the lines of how could anybody know for certain the thoughts of animals. As I thoguht further upon this, I recognised an old foe. To say that "humans can think of greater concepts" is ego driven. We think with our brain, which is part of this body. Let us look at what the Bhagavad Gita has to say about the body.. dehi nityam avadhyo ‘yam dehe sarvasya bharata tasmat sarvani bhutani na tvam socitum arhasi “O descendant of Bharata, he who dwells in the body is eternal and can never be slain. Therefore you need not grieve for any creature.” (Bhagavad-gita 2.30) This is the verse which tell us we are not our body, but "he who dwells in the body". So, when we look upon an animal, a cow, a cat, a dog, a fish, a chimpanzee, or a dolphin, what we are seeing is not who that animal is, rather, the external vehicle of "he who dwells in the body". With this knowledge, we at once realise we are the same. The life of an animal is no different to the life of a human, only the body is different. Once again, one need only reference the Bhagavad Gita.. sarva-yonisu kaunteya murtayah sambhavanti yah tasam brahma mahad yonir aham bija-pradah pita Basically, Krishna is saying that in all species of life (sarva-yonisu) I am the father (pita). When we cast animals as lower creatures, we are in direct conflict with the words of Krishna, for the soul, or life, within an animal, is the same as that which dwells within us. The truth is, that there is no such thing as "lower creatures". A great analogy here to the Christian teachings about on of the commandments "Thou shalt not kill". Of course, most Christians interpret this to mean "Thou shalt not kill people", however, this is purely a convenient interpretation which allows the wholesale slaughter of animals. Such is the case when deeming animals as "lower creatures". This is, once again, a convenient interpretation which allows the wholesale slaughter of animals. Every being born into this world has the same right to life as any other. There are no "lower creatures", upon whom we can prey, or treat less than we treat other people. The world is populated by kindred souls, not different species. When we identify ourselves as this body, then what we see is other bodies, and when we cast them as lower creatures, we may do as we wish with them until their death. When we identify ourselves as kindred souls, we see fellow travelers on a journey of life. And this is the crucial difference. One is a journey of life, the other, a journey of death.