More evolved species have increased intellectual abilities. As a result, the evolved species have greater capacities for learning. Simple observation tells us that humans have the highest intellectual abilities within our visible environment: we have greater awareness, giving us a greater capacity to learn. We can use this also to measure the relative consciousness hierarchy among the various organisms we see around us.

We can teach higher species how to cooperate with us, while lower creatures simply run from us in fear. We can teach a monkey to do things we could not teach a dog to do. We can teach a dog to do things we could not teach a mouse to do. We can teach a rabbit to do things we could not teach a lizard to do. We can see by the organism’s ability to learn and communicate what level of consciousness that species has, and what stage of evolution the living being within that body is at. As a result, we can see a hierarchy among humans, animals, birds, fish, plants, and the lower forms, with regard to the consciousness of the particular living beings inhabiting those particular physical forms.

An elephant could easily hurt a human being but since it displays a greater consciousness, it has a greater capacity to cooperate with humans. As a result, elephants have become great friends with humans, as have dolphins, horses, cows, and other more evolved animals. The living beings in these species have the capability to learn greater lessons with respect to the exchange of relationships than insects or small fish might. An insect cooperating with a human, for example, is simply not practical, as its consciousness is centered around survival and fear.
Over recent years, some scientists have begun to accept that animals and plants display emotions just as humans do. A number of studies have observed animals having many qualities thought previously to be exclusively human: honor, compassion, fairness, empathy, envy, even morality. For many years, most scientists assumed that animals had none of these qualities. 

Many animals—including rats, dogs, monkeys, birds, penguins, dolphins and others—have since been studied and observed at length. Dolphins display complex behavior related to helping their mates, even other species. Monkeys show complex behavior associated with cooperating in the gathering and sharing of food with less fortunate monkeys. When playing, an older rat will allow a younger rat to win sometimes. When dogs play, they pretend to be angry but are careful not to hurt their playmate. If they were to hurt their playmate, the playmate would lose trust and may not play next time. These observations illustrate that living organisms have various levels of consciousness, reflecting the living beings within.

 During the human form of life we have the consciousness to choose our direction. But once that direction is chosen, we may either evolve or devolve. To devolve would be to take on the body of a lower species, such as an animal, whereupon we may fall into progressively lower species.

 To evolve is to make the choice to increase our awareness of who we are and why we are here. This means our relationship with the Supreme Being.

 Should we decide to return home to the spiritual realm, we can ask for the Supreme Being's guidance and He will guide us back by teaching us specific lessons meant to prepare us for leaving the world of perpetual birth, disease, old age and death.