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Pets and the After-Life

May 10th, 2009  •  By Swami Nirmalananda Giri

Q: When an animal that you have lived with for years and been as close to as another human being–maybe even more so–dies, what happens? Can they still stay with you, though unseen? Can they see you? Will you ever meet or reunite with them?

Death, like life, is solely determined by the individual, so there are no cut and dried answers or rules about it. However, in many cases the departed are aware–at least for a while–of those they leave behind, and this includes animals. Just as with humans, if the departed see their friends in grief and distress they are also grieved and distressed. So for their sake it is good to express our sorrow as little as possible.

There is no reason to think that you will not at some time in the future meet your friend. I have known two animals, a cat and a dog, that in a short time were reborn and reunited with their former human friends. There was abundant proof that they truly were the departed ones.

Animals are sentient beings; the only difference between them and us is the level of development of the organism through which they express. And that difference is only temporary, for they are evolving upward–as are we. This being so, you can pray for their welfare (which sends loving energy to them), and can even inwardly speak to them and express your love.

There are no “dead.”

It is not easy, but please do your best to remember all the happiness of your time together, and express your gratitude for that, and hope for more in the future.

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Author: Swami Nirmalananda Giri Tags: Q & A