Did you ever have a pet? Do you have pets now? If so, you’re aware of how unique each one is. Think of bird song, the colors, patterns, and textures of feathers, fur, scales, hair, skin and voice. The sheer variety is amazing, even with the many species that have gone extinct—over the centuries as well as recently.

St. Francis of Assisi saw all creatures as our brothers and sisters, as valuable as human beings. Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism teach the principle of ahimsa—nonviolence toward all living things, or doing no harm. Today we’ll consider what the principle of nonviolence toward all living things might mean.