Compassionate Animals
From time to time, a group of Tibetan monks pass through my city. They create complicated sand paintings, visit people in hospice care to perform a solemn chant, and give lectures on living a compassionate life. The monks often speak about environmental matters and inform their listeners that animals are 'sentient beings' like themselves. Anyone who lives with a dog or a cat understands their companions have senses they don't understand. For other creatures this becomes more of a challenge to expect.
A remarkable video was captured in a reptile enclosure at a Taiwan zoo where a tortoise helped an overturned friend---who would have died from suffocation---to become uprighted.
In people, the selfless act by the turtle would represent a perfect example of 'compassion in action'. Animal behavior and psychology research is an ever-expanding field. Perhaps the researchers should ask the monks to give them some of their insights on animals.
WHB