Different-from-me

It’s usually interesting to see the differences in other people and in other species. The diversity of life is fascinating. The differences in others, which put them at a disadvantage, whether it’s racial or species difference, can stimulate a sense of caring in us, perhaps not so much from kindness but from interest.
By experiencing at close quarters different people, different life forms, different ideas, it can help us grow. Foundational ideas, like non-separation and non-violence, suggest a new approach in how we treat each other. In tandem, these two ideas can smooth the way to an acceptance of animals, as being of equal importance to humans. On some levels we seem superior to them, on other levels they’re superior to us, but however we see them, we can learn a lot to our own benefit. We don’t need to hurt them (or eat them) to benefit from them! By realising some of the superior qualities they have we’re more likely to re-think how we treat them.
Animals understand their environment better than we do. They may have better survival skills or better relationships because they aren’t gratuitously violent with each other, don’t nurture revenge and aren’t judgemental. We could learn a lot by observing them. Accepting animals on equals terms is not too distant from respecting people of different cultural backgrounds, who show us some wonderful qualities we might emulate.
Our reactions to those who are ‘different-to-me’, whether different species or humans of different cultural backgrounds, might help us switch over from distaste to admiration. We can learn a lot from foreigners, whether they’re human or non-human.