One conciousness with the animal kingdom - Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi

.....................................................................................................................................................Ramana's identity with all creation, with all life was total. There were no "others" for him. The following is an interesting excerpt taken from the book "Timeless in Time - Sri Ramana Maharishi" :-

We have an interesting happening at the asram in 1948, recorded by a devotee Narayanan, illustrating the sense of equality prevailing. Not finding Ramana at his usual place, he and his friends were wandering round the ashram when they heard a child like voice "Chee, Asatte" (Tamil word meaning stupid fellow). Looking in the direction from which the sound emanated in the kitchen garden, they saw a small goat, a little monkey, a squirrel and Bhagavan Ramana. "Bhagavan was sitting on his haunches with his legs folded upto his breast. The goat rested between his knees, the monkey had its head resting on the right knee and a squirrel perched on his left knee. Holding a packet of paper in his left palm, Bhagavan picked up groundnuts from it from his right hand fingers, one by one, and fed the goat, monkey, the squirrel and himself by turns. His remarks (Chee, Asatte) seemed to have been addressed to the monkey which had tried to snatch a nut, as he was about to place it in the squirrels mouth. As we watched, the four companions went on enjoying the eating. All the four seemed equally happy, the way they looked at each other and kept close together was quite touching.
The nuts were over, Bhagavan threw the packet away, and said "Pongada" (meaning go away, you fellows) just as an old man talking to his grandchildren.

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Squirrel

When Bhagavan was staying in the Old Hall, he was literally surrounded by squirrels. They would run all over his couch, on his body, and even under his pillows. Ramana had to be extremely careful before he sat or leaned, lest some squirrel be crushed by the weight of his body.
Once a mischievous and overactive squirrel bit Bhagavan's finger. This particular squirrel would not take his nuts from the tin but would insist on Bhagawan feeding him. Yet, when there was some delay, in chagrin he bit Bhagwan's finger. A regular tussle then followed between Ramana and the squirrel. Ramana said "You are a naughty creature! You have bitten my finger! I will no longer feed you. Go away!."
Would that fellow stay quite? No, he began begging of Bhagavan for forgiveness by crawling hither and thither. Bhagavan put the nuts on the window sill and on the sofa and told him to help himself. But no, he wouldn't even touch them. Bhagavan pretended to be indifferent and not to notice him. But he would crawl up Bhagavan's legs, jump on his body, climb on his shoulders and do ever so many things to attract his attention. Then Bhagavan told everyone, "Look, this fellow is begging of me to forgive him his mischief in biting my finger. He wants me to feed him with my own hands."
He pushed the squirrel away for some days saying, "Naughty creature! Why did you bite my finger? I won't feed you now. That is your punishment. Look, the nuts are there. Eat them all." The squirrel would not give up his obstinacy either. Some days passed and Bhagavan had to finally admit defeat because of his mercy towards his devotees.