When observing a human playing a game of Jenga with a dog, we may assume that the dog is playing with the same end goal of wanting to win! Such a profound understanding of the rules and objective of the game is displayed by the dog. However, when my dog, Maya, is playing, she gets just as excited each time the human is able to clear a block. This acknowledgment of being able to cheer on the opponent while disregarding the “competitive” edge is a reflection that leads to measuring the level of the ego’s influence on the self. The objective for Maya is simply sharing the playful moment in love, as animals lack the fertility of mind to enrich the ego into a dominating competitive force. Two humans playing will nevertheless have a competitive factor to the game as the objective shifts to force the other contestant to make the blocks fall. The rules inherently dictate a challenge. For dogs, it is a continuous exercise in teamwork to remove blocks together until the structure is dismantled.
If we can learn from animals to view the world from the perspective of love without the influence of the ego, then just like my excited Maya, we can gather together peacefully, aiming for higher aspirations in development. For as long as the ego is the guiding factor, we will, at best, remain on opposing sides of dialogues without the ability to institute any progress and, at worst, we will be strategically planning to thwart and destroy viewpoints and each other, respectively.
Add a more joyful canine approach to life and a less competitive human drive!
