Animal Reincarnation: Dogs and Other Pets in Spiritual Beliefs
Have you recently had a pet passed away and are looking for answers about your pet’s soul? Or do you have general philosophical questions about the journey of an animal’s soul? In this post we will explore exactly this: the reincarnation of dogs, cats, and other animals, according to ancient spiritual traditions and beliefs.
Let’s take a look at what Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism have to say about reincarnation in animals, their souls, and their journey in the afterlife.
1. Hinduism and the Reincarnation of Dogs and Other PEts and Animals
As a pet owner/parent who has recently said goodbye to a beloved dog or any other pet, the pain of loss may be overwhelming. In Hindu cosmology, however, there exists a perspective that extends beyond the present moment.
Hindus believe that every living being has an individual soul, and that the soul is immortal. At the same time, that individual soul forms part of the universal soul.
When dog, or any other pet or living being dies, their soul embarks on an extraordinary and cosmic journey. It’s the journey of rebirth, to live, die, and be reborn yet again. It’s a very long, almost infinte cycle, called called “samsara”.
Hindu scriptures describe a staggering 8.400.000 types of species, offering a glimpse into the vast array of life forms your dog’s soul may explore. It’s a journey that transcends the boundaries of our earthly comprehension.
For example, they tell us of lower or less evolved forms are those of of species born in water, species that don’t move (such as plants), microbes, reptiles, etc. One of these categories are four-legged animals.
A Dog’s or Other Animal’s Evolutionary Path
Consider your dog’s place in this vast tapestry of reincarnation. From a water species or a plant, to the playfulness and loyalty of a dog, each incarnation propels the soul forward on its evolutionary journey.
The soul of your dog this lifetime took a furry form. In the next lifetime he or she could take the form of a completely different being.
Even though there are different beliefs in Hinduism, according to my Indian teacher, who has comes from a renowned, centuries-long family lineage of experts in the matters of birth and reincarnation (vedic astrologers), reincarnations only go “forward” or stay at the same level.
That means that an animal that died will not reincarnate in a lower form. So, for example, a dog will not reincarnate as an insect. They can only reincarnate as an animal considered more evolved. For the same reason, dogs or cats could not have been humans in a previous life.
Human Incarnation: The Ultimate Destination
In the grand narrative of the cycle of life, death and rebirth (samsara), the ultimate destination for a soul in this earthly plane is believed to be a human incarnation.
Your dog, too, is on this transformative path. He or she is gradually ascending through various life forms until becoming a human being.
Humans are considered to be at the top of this chain. This is because we are the only animals who can act with judgment, not just by instinct. This gives the opportunity to humans for spiritual growth.
It takes a long time until animals and other beings attain this human form, so it is possible that dogs and other pets might not become humans in their next reincarnation.
Resting Before the Next Incarnation
After a dog or any other animal dies, their souls go to a state of rest known as antarayamin, before reincarnation.
This is like a period of respite in the cosmic journey. This means that dogs and other animals do not reincarnate immediately according to Hinduism. This could potentially explain why there are some many stories about dogs visiting their owners after death.
This interlude allows the soul to reflect, assimilate its past experiences, and prepare for the challenges and lessons of the next life.
In this timeless expanse, your pet’s soul rests, awaiting the next chapter in its journey through the cycle of life, death and rebirth.
Becoming One with the Universe
The ultimate goal of the soul’s journey is to attain moksha, liberation from the cycle.
As your dog, cat, or any other pet or animal, traverses the vast landscapes of reincarnation, it moves closer to the realization of its divine essence.
Eventually, the soul is believed to merge with the cosmic consciousness, becoming one with the universe, or the Eternal Soul.
Jainism and the Reincarnation of Animals
Jainism, another ancient Indian religion, weaves its own narrative about the cycle of life. Let’s take a look at the the concept of reincarnation in Jainism, and how animals are an important part of it.
For a dog or any other pet that has left this earthly existence, Jainism provides a similar idea of reincarnation as Hinduism does, but with some differences.
Cycles of Birth and Rebirth
In Jain philosophy, the journey of the soul is also characterized by cycles of birth and rebirth. Much like the continuous wheel of samsara in Hinduism. There are also millions of bodies in which a soul can be born.
Dogs, along with all animals and living beings in general, are believed to undergo this perpetual cycle of reincarnation, propelled by the consequences of their actions, known as karma.
Karma and its Impact
Jainism places significant emphasis on karma, the accumulation of moral or immoral actions that shape the destiny of the soul.
The soul of a departed animal carries with it the imprints of its past actions. They will determine the circumstances and forms it will inhabit in subsequent lives.
Your dog’s soul, having navigated the realms of canine existence, may embark on a journey that leads to different life forms. Each of them, governed by the karmic imprints acquired in previous existences.
They believe that human’s souls have the same destiny. Meaning, that according to the actions of humans during their life, humans could potentially become animals or other types of beings (even heavenly or infernal beings) in their next incarnation.
No Resting Phase Before Reincarnation
In the Jain doctrine, there is a belief that the soul transitions to its next body almost immediately after death. Contrary to Hinduism, there is no “resting state”.
That means, the moment after your pet died, they reincarnated immediately. A conception takes place exatly at that time, and their soul enters that new seed of life.
This new body might not necessarily be the same animal form. It could be in any of the various life forms within the cycle of reincarnation, including other animals, plants, or other forms of existence.
The Pursuit of Spiritual Purity
In Jainism, the ultimate goal is not only liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth but also the purification of the soul. As your dog or cat, traverses the intricate web of existence, it accumulates experiences that contribute to its spiritual evolution.
Jains believe in the potential for every soul to attain moksha, a state of eternal bliss and liberation. This is a difference with Hinduism, who believe only humans can attain liberation from the death and rebirth cycle.
The journey involves shedding karmic baggage through ascetic practices, compassion, and righteous living. Your dog’s soul, too, participates in this cosmic dance toward spiritual purity, inching closer to the ultimate goal of emancipation.
Reincarnation of Animals According to buddhism
In Buddhist philosophy, the journey of an animal’s consciousness also unfolds within the cycle of samsara. Samsara, like in in Hinduism and Jainism, is understood as a continuous process of birth, death, and rebirth.
In the vast expanse of this cosmic cycle, your pet’s soul is not seen as an individual soul (nor any other soul). But rather as the interplay of ever-changing elements that come together at the time of conception, guided by the intricate web of karma and consciousness.
From the simplicity of a blade of grass to the complexity of sentient beings, each existence is a manifestation of interconnected causes and conditions rather than an independent, unchanging soul.
Impermanence and the Fluid Nature of Being
In the Buddhist understanding of reincarnation, the form that an animal assumes in each life is not fixed.
The fluid nature of existence means that the collection of elements representing your dog may transition from one form to another.
This lifetime, this essence entered the body of a dog. The next one it could become a human or another animal. He could have also been a human before becoming a dog again.
Human Rebirth: A Step Towards Enlightenment
In Buddhist cosmology, the aspiration for sentient beings is to progress towards enlightenment, breaking free from the cycle of samsara.
While the ultimate goal is not necessarily confined to human rebirth, the human form is considered particularly conducive to spiritual practice and awakening.
A dog, cat, and animals in general, in their karmic journey, go through almost endeless reincarnations. Each of them contributes to the refinement of their consciousness.
The possibility of attaining a human rebirth becomes a significant milestone on the path toward enlightenment. It’s as a human where the potential for self-awareness and spiritual evolution is heightened.
Bardo: The Intermediate State
Different Buddhist traditions have different beliefs in relation to what happens after death.
Tibetan Buddhists believe in a state known as the Bardo. This is an in-between state between death and the next birth. It takes up to 49 days.
According to them, the reincarnation of your dog, cat, or any other pet will not happen immediately They will have some resting time between their next life.
On the other hand, Theravada Buddhists consider that rebirth can be immediate. Meaning that, according to them, right after your dog or any other pet has died, reincarnation would already be taking place.
Union with the Dharmakaya
The ultimate objective of life is to achieve liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth, what is known as Nirvana—the state of ultimate bliss and enlightenment.
This would be the final destination of an animal, in whatever form they will have at that moment.
Can You Meet Your Pet Again After They Reincarnate?
As you can see, several ancient religions share a common belief in the continuity of life, including that of animals. Only some details differ.
According to these traditions, the essence of life, or the soul, undergoes a cycle of reincarnation. This means that the essence or soul of your dog, cat, horse, or any other pet does not disappear at the moment of death. They continue to live one and will come back once again to Earth.
Will you meet your pet in Earth again after they reincarnate? No one can guarantee this, but it’s definitely possible. The bond you share with any living being creates karma, a sort of invisible connection that will bring you once and again to that same soul.
Just be aware that your pet will have a different body, and might not necessarily reincarnate in the same species.
Before You Go…
If you found the discussion of animal reincarnation intriguing, consider delving into our post on whether keeping pet ashes brings negative energy, where we also explore the beliefs of ancient traditions regarding animals and death.
Together, let’s continue unraveling the mysteries of the sould and energy of animals, finding solace and wisdom in the diverse tapestry of spiritual beliefs.
