Do Animals Experience Enlightenment or Exceed Humans in Awareness?

My late boss' cockatiel consistently maintained that so-called 'dumb' animals were better off because they had no illusions about their place or supposed importance. This interesting perspective aligns with the belief that enlightenment involves transcending prejudices and illusions. Considering this, we can explore if any animals can experience a form of enlightenment or surpass humans in specific areas.

Enlightenment: A State of Freedom from Illusions

Any being trapped by thought and the illusions of thought that cause suffering can become liberated, which is what we traditionally understand as enlightenment. From this perspective, most animals might not be trapped in such illusions, and thus do not need liberation.

Comparative Awareness

Some animals are truly exceptional in their sensory capabilities. For instance, bats and numerous mammals are more enlightened in understanding high-pitched tones, whereas some fish possess advanced awareness of what having 50 feet of ocean on top of them feels like. These unique qualities suggest that some animals are indeed more aware in certain capacities.

Enlightenment and Spiritual Capacity

When it comes to enlightenment as a spiritual achievement, characterized by a level of spirituality achieved through language and meditation, it is difficult to conceive of any other species having that mental capacity. Humans are unique in their ability to engage in such practices, and their enlightenment usually involves transcending materialism and verbosity.

Nature and Intuition

When discussing enlightenment in terms of heightened sensitivity to natural phenomena, the answer might be yes. Animals, particularly birds, fish, and domestic pets, have a strong sense of intuition regarding natural disasters. For example, many will vacate an area before an earthquake occurs, while domestic animals often exhibit behavioral changes prior to such events.

Humans, relying solely on scientific tools, are often unable to predict such events. This suggests a certain level of intuitive capability in animals that surpasses our current understanding. Yet, we might be missing something, as we have lost some of these natural abilities through technological advancements.

Limited Understanding of Animal Capabilities

Enlightenment is a non-scientific concept, making it challenging to definitively assess animal abilities. Animals from arthropods to mammals possess communication and/or abilities that we have yet to fully understand. For instance, how do crows manage to learn how to cross the street safely, even when the light is red? And only recently did we discover that elephants communicate through sounds below our hearing threshold.

These examples highlight the vast potential and hidden skills within the animal kingdom that we are only beginning to uncover. As we continue to explore and understand the world through the eyes of animals, it becomes clear that our comprehension of their abilities is constantly evolving.