“I see God in all beings, even in an ant. If I see a living being die, I find consolation in the thought that it is the death of the body, the soul being beyond life and death.” – Shri Ramakrishna To summarize, so high was Sri Ramakrishna’s state of spiritual realization that he felt his Atman, his soul, unified with the souls of mute animals. Hence when they suffered, he too felt immense pain and discomfort. The conclusion for us all is simple. In every person and in every animal, however weak or wicked, great or small, resides the same eternal and omniscient soul. The difference is not in the soul, but in the manifestation. Between you and the smallest animal, the difference is only in manifestation, but as a principle they are the same as you are, him and her is your brother and sister, they have the same soul as you have. This is the ultimate reality and the key to true happiness. The Emily Dahl Foundation August 2023