Relationship between animal and human in “Carp of my Dreams.”
Introduction
The relationship between men and animals get affected from different angles. So many schools of thought determine the nature with which human beings relate with animals. This is further affected depending on the context of their placement. By so saying, the implication of social, financial and religious settings all have varied effects on the manner in which man and animals relate. The relationships that transpire between animals and man thereby depend on a variety of social, cultural, psychological, physiological and religious influences. The focus of this paper will be in the manner in which man treats animals depending on the context of Japanese culture and the religion of Buddhism.
The paper will take a deep look at the beliefs behind the treatment of animals by the members of the Japanese society with a focus on the eating of animals. On the same aspect of the relationship with animals, this paper will look at reasons behind the treatment of animals through tenderness and compassion as expressed by Monks. The paper further relates its animal human relations and exploits by focusing on the experiences of an ancient monk called Kogi who transverses beyond nature out of the favor of the God of fishes to tell his story about the unfair treatment of animals.
Relationship between monks and animals
In ‘The Carp of My Dreams,’ the relationship between man and animal is trodden through dreams. Kogi is the main character in this book and he narrates the story of the journeys he has had under water. Kogi, a monk in the novel is obsessed with paintings that he extends his love for animals to an economic cost. He does not eat animals and he goes to an extent of buying fish from fishermen and releasing them back to the water where they swim and he paints them. These painting escapades draws him into dreaming that he dreams of getting under water swimming among all kinds of fish of various sizes. His awakening from the dream drives him into doing the painting which he names The Carp of My Dreams. The reverence with which Kogi holds the painting of the carp shows his endearment to the lives of animals; it is a treasure that he feels he cannot afford to let go, into the hands of laymen, he believes do not appreciate animals. By so doing he lets go of all other paintings like of flowers, landscapes and birds to admirers who come to see them but says that, “This monk will never give away the fish he has reared to ordinary laymen who kill living things and eat fresh meat” (7).
There is also a belief of inhibition of a distinct world by animals whereby they only separate from animals through the states of their minds. Being born as an animal is a very unhappy occurrence requiring sympathy and compassion. The animal world then remains one full of suffering because animals stay in constant fear of being slaughtered and eaten by humans. Animals living with humans face constant torture as they get exposed to hard labor without any habitation security. Animals are also victims of ignorance presented in lives without any understanding or clarity of the happenings around them left to act out of instinct.
His act of mercy towards nature is what leads him to the carp of his dreams. He is given the opportunity of enjoying the life of a fish by getting the chance of swimming under water like one of them. The same journey that he takes to the joy of life as a fish is the same journey that leads him face to face with realities of cruelty of man towards animals. He faces the wrath of being caught through the lures of fishing bait and almost faces the wrath of death through the hands of man who do not hesitate to make delicacies out of the flesh of animals.
The relationship of laymen and animals
The modern man has lost most of former connections he had with nature. Science has however opened so many avenues through which man can express himself despite the lost theistic religious faith. The development of spiritual and moral values in the era of industrial revolution has increased the need for material acquisition has changed values and attitudes. These attitudes overlook the potential of suffering held by animals and their ability of gaining enlightenment. In the Carp of My Dreams, just like in most Japanese traditions, there stays the belief that animals can be some distant relatives. These could be a mother, sister or brother that died some time back and possessing animal form in a state of rebirth. Therefore, the relationship between man and animals is an interconnected one like from a same family thereby bringing the discouragement of eating of animals.
The reasons why laymen eat fish as portrayed by Kogi in his stories if the fact that man has had an override of his passions. This has forced man into a nature of alienation with influences of instinctive pleasures. No wonder when Kogi is captured during his fishing escapade through the dream of his carp, he is taken to the Temple where there is a party preparation of eating and drinking. The shouts of help from the fish are less recognized even though his mouth is seen opening despite the lack of a sound.
Greed has led man to violent aggression against nature. That is why people eat animals without feeling anything for them. It is almost like there is a forgetfulness of mans comprising of nature itself. When monks decide not to eat animals for religious reasons, it goes a long way into preservation of nature that they themselves are a part of. The unrestricting nature and the greed of man towards natural resources causes depletion and pollution. These in turn bring about health implications that Kogi cannot face most especially because he is a monk. That is why he goes a step ahead to buy fish from fishermen and releases them back to the waters.
The need for a review of values and interests remain apparent for man to change his unbecoming lifestyle. It is time that man stopped the materialism attitude for him to evade the problems which accompany it. In Buddhism the mind is seen as the forerunner of everything with the mind holding the supreme position. Acts from an impure mind leads man to sorrow, delusion, hatred and greed with an inevitable result of suffering. The realization of this guides the mind of monks into not indulging in activities which hurt others. They in turn express compassion and use their wisdom to gain complete happiness. The hatred of animals that man expresses simply comes from personal physiological disillusions that man faces. For man to appreciate the lives of other animals, it becomes important for him to first love himself and then extends the same love to animals.
The preservation of life by Buddhists
Buddhism is therefore the source of moderation of lifestyles that appreciates all aspects in moderation through self indulgence and self deprivation. Monks have learned to reduce their wants maintaining them in a minimum low maintaining a level of contentment. They have learnt how to set principles for their lives, self-control, and perfect use of senses, use wisdom, discharge social roles and act in self awareness. The monks seem to be the ones on the forefront of tackling alienation problems by not indulging in exploitative and aggressive acts towards animals. It could be due to the fact that monks believe that there is a point of rebirth in animals and that there is a possibility for man to born as animals. Whether it is about the avoidance of animal human crisis or just staying respectful of animals, it still remains an interesting way of maintaining a positive relationship with all animal species. Monks therefore maintain harmony with animals and living a happy fulfilled life without causing harm for animals.
In Buddhism, there is a belief that things are changeable in nature. There is a constant process of change, which makes monks to believe in acquisition of different forms on transition into new life. It is also through the strict observation of preservation of life that keeps monks from eating meat. Even the thought of hurting life alone is one that is strictly restricted and discouraged. This sympathy for leaving creatures takes into account the lives of all kinds of living creatures by making sure that they get full protection.
Merit is an aspect that creates a great degree of relationship within the lives of animals and humans. It takes the slightest non violent action from humans toward animals for them to gain favors for their generous action. In the cape of my dream, Kogi is just an exemplification of this attribute; his act of releasing fish from the merciless hands of fishermen who would either slaughter them or sell them to those to slaughter them gains him favor in the eyes of the God of fish.
Supernatural existence in the Carp of My Dreams
Looking at the presentation of supernatural qualities in the book, the carp of my dreams, one is left but to wonder if the stories of Kogi were reality or perfect fiction. His experiences through the swim in the under waters are not common occurrences. The fact that he claims that he turned into a fish alone presents some supernatural qualities that do not display in ordinary life. On natural occasions, humans cannot stay under water without technological aid. The manner in which Kogi describes his swim is a strange one. His meeting with the God of fishes is also an extra ordinary one. Since he must have fallen asleep, there are chances that al these were just some strange dream that he faced. However, the fact that on the final occasion of his life he falls critically ill and receives life as a fish accorded to him for some time holds supernatural aspects.
Kogis relatives are also holding some supernatural fears in the manner of their treatment of Kogi. On realizing that Kogis’ heart still contains some warmth, they become hesitant about burying him. They insist on waiting upon him without conviction that he is indeed in the verge of dying. What they hope for now is his regaining of health and coming back to life. Of course he recovers to the delight of many. However, the supernatural story which he comes with, and in fact the one that leads to his full recovery is a strange one. Kogi was a fish for some time when his relatives waited on his soul to depart from him. On waking up, he sends for the master in the temple to narrate his story and probably just to save his life. This is apparently so unnatural because as a fish, there is no expectation of the realization of what goes around.
The supernatural aspect of Kogi as the fished fish ready to be slaughtered for the masters party bring about extra ordinary happenings. First he narrates how he got lured to the fragrance of the bait which normal fish may not even notice, leave alone narrate. He then gives a further unbelievable narration of how the fisherman forced his eyes closed and any cries from him for help fell on deaf ears. Through this narration, Kogi believes that both the fisherman and the master as well as those who saw him as a fish heard his screams for help and chose to ignore his plight just like all animals face when close to slaughter. The thought and fear of getting slaughtered, scares him to much that in the plight of fright, he awakens from the dream.
This is a very strange occurrence as on most occasions, Kogi must just have been ill and about to die. Turning into a fish and still maintaining his sight and wisdom is not natural. Those around him in the house believe his story, and even the master gets confirmation from his servant that the fish made frantic efforts that may be the screams of help. This supernatural quality that Kogi possesses when he turns into a fish rescues him from getting slaughtered. It is a strange thing but with the traditions of the society where he lives, it just remains possible that animals deserves better treatment or else one could slaughter a human being amidst soundless shouts of help just like Kogi.
Conclusion
All creatures regardless of size, distance, length, visibility or greatness deserve all forms of love and kindness. It is a love for animals that keep monks from harming animals by ensuring that they experience the kind of love, which they themselves wish to experience from others. Through compassion, it becomes possible for man and animals to maintain a healthy and happy relationship. Kindness tames animals from the wild and keeps them in each other’s company without any form of fears. Rebirth and Karma as has been stated above also keeps the monks from harming animals but instead remaining absolutely sympathetic towards animals. The belief of being in subhuman state among animals keeps monks from causing suffering to animals for the belief that the animal for slaughter could be a human. Close relatives can return in the state of animal life and therefore deserve sympathy and kindness.
