Ramana said unequivocally that Lakshmi the cow had attained full liberation at her death. I heard one story where he looked at some people and said, "Look at Lakshmi. Do you know what state she is in? She is in samadhi." A guy on facebook even claimed that it was because Ramana was a recluse and that "even he couldn't take it" when she died and so he made that story about her enlightenment. Seems like a ridiculous interpretation to me that doesn't really tally with the facts. People make such statements very confidently, though. Who knows? Ramana said that he was visited by Siddhas in animal bodies often. Take it how you will. He also said vegetarianism was one of the best aids to spiritual practice because it produces a sattwic mind.
I personally never eat meat. When I read about Yogananda many years ago, I decided that meat eating wasn't for me. It was the easiest thing I've ever given up because I never liked the taste of meat much anyway. It is really the things on top of meat, like ketchup, that really tastes good to me. But there aren't many options for vegetarians in the small town where I am at this writing. Meat is a staple here. Still I manage. There are scant vegetarian options in fast food, although after 8 years of vegetarianism you learn all the veggie items on the menus. Family gatherings are awkward.
Thanks for the anecdotes about Ramana and the enlightened cow Lakshmi. i know that i have heard that animals are unable to express divine consciousness because they do not have the cerebral spinal system as humans do to raise the consciousness upward. Such beings are always shaped like a star. However for various reasons i have found God can make any exceptions he wants to his laws. In the case of Lakshima i have faith that Ramana knew that their was something very extraordinary happening there. Perhaps one of the reasons was to remind us that we never can really know what we are killing so it is best not to kill at all if we can avoid it.
In this physical dimension at this time in history we are a small group of people compared to the 'herd mentality' i have seen many spiritual
aspirants return back to the herd mentality. It is very sad. But some of us will continue on. As Krishna says 'Out of a thousand there is one who seeks me. Out of a thousand who seek me there is one who finds me.' He also lived in a higher time. The numbers are probably much much smaller in these times.
