Animal Sutras

Poet, dharma teacher, and companion to the dying and the bereaved, Stephen Levine embodied his own exhortation to “keep your heart open in hell.” Born in 1937 to a secular Jewish family, Stephen spent his adult life exploring, practicing, and sharing the traditions of the East, weaving a tapestry of seemingly disparate but ultimately harmonious elements of bhakti yoga (the Hindu path of devotion) and Vipassana (Buddhist mindfulness practice). He died in 2016 in the home he shared with his beloved wife and co-teacher, Ondrea, in the mountains of northern New Mexico.

A longtime friend of iconic spiritual teacher Ram Dass, and of the pioneer of the conscious dying movement Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Stephen shifted the cultural conversation around death. By embracing both dying and grieving as opportunities for awakening, Stephen and Ondrea helped countless beings approach their own deaths as the ultimate spiritual experience and their bereaved loved ones to be blessed with transformation. Among Stephen’s many books, Who Dies?, Unattended Sorrow, and One Year to Live endure as classics and continue to serve as vital guides to those seeking support for navigating the mystery of the human condition.

In their work with both the dying and the living, Stephen and Ondrea reclaimed the concept of “mercy” as an essential element in self-forgiveness, enabling people on a conscious path to leave this world unburdened by guilt, and to dispel the legacy of shame in the hearts of those left behind. These teachings, though simple, were revolutionary. Stephen’s book Becoming Kwan Yin draws on the Chinese Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion as an exemplar for this liberating practice.

For several decades, Stephen and Ondrea lived in relative isolation in the high desert of rural New Mexico (where Ondrea continues to live), raising children and animals, in close connection with the land. Their solitary life in the wilderness made their outpouring of loving attention to the dying and the bereaved possible. One of Stephen’s lesser-known passions was his deep connection with animals, both domestic and wild. A consummate storyteller, Stephen conveyed his relationships with dogs and horses, his encounters with snakes and skunks, and his visitations by mockingbirds and hummingbirds with the artfulness of a bard and the insight of a Buddha.

"I love this book. It feels like a secret treasure bequeathed by Stephen Levine to be opened after his death—an overflowing vessel of insight, humor and literary genius. For those of us who find the deepest dharma shining from the eyes of our animal companions, this collection is a cause for celebration. Animal Sutras may be the best book Stephen Levine ever wrote." —Mirabai Starr, Caravan of No Despair and Wild Mercy

“Stephen was a profound healer of the heart, writer and meditation teacher. In Animal Sutras, his other gifts shine, as a wise poet-naturalist and Dharma storyteller-philosopher, offered here in a lyrical, quirky, playful, and inviting collection.”—Jack Kornfield, A Path with Heart

“A beautiful treasure house of a book: wise, tender, and surprising. Our precious friend has given us a great gift.”—Roshi Joan Halifax

"This is a great book, written with Stephen Levine's characteristic sumptuous brilliance. It is nothing less than a profoundly naked initiation into the tender and grateful relationship we all need to reclaim with the natural world. Read it again and again and allow Stephen Levine to take you by the hand into the true magic of our amazing world."—Andrew Harvey, author of The Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism

“With an eye for beauty, a poetic genius, and a heart of wisdom, Stephen shares these precious teachings learned from spirit animals. The moonlit skunk, the mouse of faith, and the bear of compassion transmit boundless love and the transcendent truth of the nature of life. Stephen invites us into gratefulness, an awareness of unity and the wild freedom expressed though a life fully lived. Reading it will open you to a joyful life.”—Frank Ostaseski, author of The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully

"This small treasure of a book is about the better animals of our nature. Stephen Levine has called upon the Muse of Story to distill into words his many encounters with animals, and how the meeting of these shared consciounesses has illuminated and guided the instincts and attitudes of his heart. In the spirit of Ovid and Aesop, the Jātakas and La Fontaine, but informed by living truths transmitted by nature rather than imagined myths and fables, he shares with us how these meetings have repeatedly led him to the Sacred.

"Whether it is forgiveness from a salamander, stillness from a green snake, the acknowledgement of territories by a spider or mindfulness by ravens, over and over these stories lead us, too, to realize the primacy of kindness as the way for all of us to help each other to arrive at wellbeing. Ajahn Chah used to say, 'Everything is teaching us, if we let it.' This slender volume carries that exact same message. The lesson might be sweet, like the results of practicing patience in caring for a sick cat, or it might be bitter, like the witnessing of a weeping bull before an impassioned crowd—either way, how much better our world will be if we allow the animals of our own nature to learn from the life that is all around us."—Ajahn Amaro, Amaravati Buddhist Monastery

“A beautifully wise and whimsical book that brings us back into our hearts and connects us with the everything. Many authors talk about mindfulness, but we are left unaffected. Stephen has a magical way of bringing us into the experience itself. Even from the beyond, he calls us home to ourselves. As I read his poignant stories, I was reminded of what really mattered. I am grateful for this brilliant offering.”—Jeff Brown, author of Soulshaping and Grounded Spirituality

“Stephen’s generosity of spirit and depth of compassion shine forth. Read these stories and you will see this world and your place in it in a new, fresh way. What a sweet gift!”—Dale Borglum, Living/Dying Project

"French poet and novelist Anatole France wrote: 'Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.' Spiritual teacher Eckart Tolle says, 'I have lived with several Zen masters—all of them cats.' French writer Milan Kundra says, 'Dogs are our link to Paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent.' Jewish philosopher Martin Buber wrote: 'An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language.' These words all ring true to me, as the animals in my own life have been wise teachers, loyal companions, and loving friends. I know what Stephen Levine means when he talks about his 'life becoming truer due to the interchange with plants and animals, mercy and awareness.' Mine, too. I'm happy and grateful that Stephen wrote this wonderful book. I love it!" —BJ Gallagher, coauthor of A Peacock in the Land of Penguins: A Fable About Creativity and Courage

"Stephen Levine’s Animal Sutras resonates at the deepest level of heart and soul, invoking memories of our own joyful and painful experiences with the four-legged, winged, finned, and slithering. His vivid prose delights, as he reveals profound insights on the relationship between all sentient beings. This meaningful collection will move you from teary-eyed to grinning like a Cheshire cat as he lovingly describes his wonder-filled menagerie." —Sarah Bowen, author of Spiritual Rebel: A Positively Addictive Guide to Finding Deeper Perspective and Higher Purpose

"The late poet and spiritual teacher Levine (1937–2016) takes inspiration from the 4th Century BCE Buddhist Jataka Tales in these delightful stories of 'transcendent moments' spent with animals. While tending a wildlife sanctuary in southern Arizona until 2016, Levine began blending his Buddhist beliefs into his journaling about his animal friends. The sutras all aim to break up common impressions of animals. For instance, Levine writes that there is a collective fear of spiders but there are 'spiders of wonderment who crawl over our forearm, stop to pray, and disappear a bit more lovingly into the underbrush of the mind.' Also included are his experiences with a 'salamander of forgiveness,' a green snake who teaches him to meditate, and the 'mouse of faith' who by 'hopping from sunspot to sunspot across the weathered planks of the porch, seemed to wholly comprehend the potential for boundless fear or boundless joy.' In this cornucopia of brief tales laced together in wonderful prose, Levine (Healing into Life and Death) presents imaginings of animals’ inner lives that will leave a lasting impression with any reader, and will particularly appeal to Buddhists. (Sept.)" —Publishers Weekly

“This is a precious book whether or not you’re familiar with Stephen and his work. Animal Sutras will reach even more deeply into your heart if you are already familiar with his work. The book gives insights into his personality and life that don’t always show up in his other writings and works. Animal Sutras will find a place in the homes of animal lovers and spiritual seekers alike and his stories will be treasured and shared for years to come.” —New Spirit Journal

Spirituality & Practice lists Animal Sutras by Stephen Levine as one of “The Best Spiritual Books of 2019.”