By Ajit Krishna Dasa

Modern science has highlighted many similarities between humans and animals, such as the capacity for emotions, complex social behaviors, and even certain forms of intelligence. These findings have led some to conclude that humans are “merely” animals, suggesting there is nothing particularly special or unique about human existence compared to that of other species. This view tends to reduce human life to the same biological drives shared with animals—such as the pursuit of food, shelter, and reproduction—overlooking the profound differences that set us apart. From a Vedic perspective, while acknowledging these similarities, there remains a significant distinction: the human capacity for spiritual inquiry and self-realization.