Cats who teach me to fly…

There were days when it seemed so long… We all try to give comfort to our rescues as much as we can when they are dying. Always peeping on them in the mist of our daily routine. Making sure that they are not sleeping in an awkward position. Cleaning up their pee and keeping clean all the time and they don’t usually poop.

Mel had a fractured foot. I’m helping her as much as I could and that’s a lot of traveling to do and she has a cat I took home from Hougang that requires subcutaneous administration on alternate days and I’m helping with it.

I got to deliver copies of Ayya Khema’s book to the nearby temple. It was less than 15 mins’ ride under the hot weather and I enjoyed cycling. Thanks to the people who allowed Ayya Khema’s book to be distributed at their monasteries as well as Buddhist centres. I have almost forgotten that I had to deliver two copies to our library last Wednesday. I quickly sent them in the evening an hour before they closed. At first the library rejected my offer because our library only receives publications from Asia and South East Asia and it must not be a repeated title. I wrote back and argued that there was no hardcopy in the library and there was only an ebook and that they should consider taking the hardcopy. I wasn’t expecting a reply. When they did so, it was a pleasant surprise!

I submitted a post on Facebook which I find it necessary as the donations raised by this cat rescuer looks suspicious. She used a Chinese name to disguise her real identity and I find it unacceptable. In addition, her friend whom she had vouched publicly as a legit rescuer reported that 25 of her cats died in a short time. There was no proof of cats getting medical attention, neither did she declare the donation amount received from the public was used on vets and cremation. After the posting, there was a donor who privately messaged me telling me not all funds go to the cats. It’s up to the public to be vigilant to who and where the money goes. I’m only raising awareness. There will bound to be people who would attack you illogically. I’m used to it anyway and not once that I’m afraid of the negative comments, even if it means calling me names. Don’t expect those who have the habit of picking and criticising you to change overnight and accept who you are. This will never happen. So remember, never go back to people who have such habit. I was exhausted for the day mainly responding on social media.

It was a tiring week. It’s also good to keep ourselves occupied once in a while. The cats at home are good. They allow me to rest most of the time. A few needs medical attention and supplements. We have to check on them every day and we do our best!

Conditions, conditions, conditions! We are often carried away by conditions. If we are mindful enough, conditions will not override us and we’re heading to the right way. Time to feed the cats at home now! Oh… I’ve forgotten to pick up my parcels!

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Five years ago, I spotted a few kittens roaming up and down skittishly along the staircase and corridors. I wanted to know who their owners were, I followed them. Sigh… it was the same owner that took two kittens home many years back because they found them pitiful and dumped them to the feeder, who is me, to feed!

I helped her to sterilise the kittens, including FG. There were four or five of them including FG. Whenever after a cat had been sterilised, I no longer care if they are indoors or outdoors anymore. FG was the only one who didn’t want to be at home. She stayed outdoors and hung around behind the lift. I sterilised them when they were around five-months-old. As FG grew older, her tummy seemed to be abnormal. Both sides of her tummy were protruding, just like Toofy. But that didn’t mean she had health issues. Other feeders were feeding her too and she grew fatter and fatter.

Whenever I saw her late at night, she was always lying flat with her fat tummy spreading. I left kibbles and a can of wet food to whoever wanted to eat if there are hungry at night. Since her tummy was often seen spreading on the ground, I didn’t notice if she was losing weight until Xiumin, the feeder who feeds in the evening told me that she didn’t look good. On the very night I checked on FG and felt her spine. I took her to the vet the very next day.

FG had a growth on her kidney. The first few days she was looking happy, active and ate a good handful of kibbles and wet food that was mixed with probiotics. She deteriorated so quickly. She stopped eating anymore…

She was still grooming when she was home. I am glad that she was home. She didn’t eat for the next three days. I can’t imagine if she was suffering this way in the drain or anywhere that they could hide themselves.

Her owners didn’t seem to live there anymore and hope that they are not giving any problem to the feeders she currently lives now. Rescue never ends because of all these irresponsible people.

We cremated FG the following day. I almost forgotten that she had left when I was looking at the empty space where she used to sleep.

May the merits accumulated be dedicated to her favourable rebirth!

***Thanks Xiumin for sponsoring her medical bill, food and cremation.

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Many years ago, I’ve learnt that the production of palm oil has destroyed the habitat of the wildlife and cause suffering to them, I’ve stopped consuming it. I recall seeing an image in social media that an orangutan was trying to protect its home by fighting against a machine that was uprooting a tree. It was heart wrenching. Whenever I see palm oil ingredient listed in a product, I would not buy it. This narrowed my choice of food.

Just a week ago, I’ve come across a documentary that talks about sustainable palm oil. It feels good knowing how this group of people are making profit yet protecting wildlife and habitats, ending deforestation and being fair to the workers. On one side of the land, there are palm tree plantations and on the other side, they have restored the forests that had been destroyed while profiting from palm oil. It’s not an easy task but they did it!

Above picture is the RSPO logo. However, I didn’t seem to find any product here that comes with this logo. Perhaps I’m a vegan which again narrowed down the choices of food and that’s why I didn’t get to see it.

From the documentary, it says that only 20% of the production of palm oil is sustainable. I hope in the near future, more companies would support RSPO and make the world a better place for the wildlife. It’s a joy to see people are beginning to be aware the impact we’ve done to the environment and animals.

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If you’ve wondered how helping the animals could help me progress in the Dhamma practice, I shall now explain to you.

When I first lost a cat, it took me a month to get over it and when I lost yet another cat, the number of days of suffering reduces. I lost yet another and another and from one month of suffering to two weeks and from two weeks to seven days, four days, three days and eventually one day and sometimes I do not even feel anything but the love is always there. Yes, pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

All illnesses that a cat has is the same as humans. It allows me to understand the pain and suffering of both humans and non-humans. And whenever I am sick, fall down or experience unpleasant feelings, the first thing that comes to my mind is to wish such pain would not happen to any living beings, humans and non-humans.

I see the Four Noble Truths in them every day, which is a lot to reflect already, especially cause and condition.

Practising loving kindness can be applied in helping both humans and non-humans since all experience suffering.

My rescues at home trained my patience and make me a better practitioner because they constantly remind me of my habits and when the habits had been overcome, I didn’t even notice them.

I’ve learnt to smile the first thing I get up in the morning until it becomes a habit even when I don’t see them.

Whenever I heard humans screaming or unusual calling from a cat or dog and even rats or birds, or any unfamiliar sounds that arouse danger, the first thing that comes to my mind is save! Not fear but to save!

All these do not happen overnight and require gradual training. They are virtuous acts that helps in concentration. It is definitely not the end of training.

I am not surrounded by people who are constantly practising an equanimous mind. For the readers who think animal rescue work cannot help progress in our daily Dhamma practice, you have come to the wrong site.

I humbly admitted my shortcomings because I am aware of them and not denying them. Do not judge my shortcomings and if you must, at least get to know the conditions behind. To criticise an unenlightened being for clinging to the Dhamma is not appropriate. I’ve never worried about not letting go of this or that for I have understood with the consistency of practising the Dhamma, the maturity of letting go would arise eventually. Therefore, do not let it bother you. Everything requires time to progress. That’s why it is called the stream, leading towards Nibbāna. I can’t force myself to be who I am not or what others expect of me.

To those who are sensitive to my experience or comments, I apologise. There are comments that cannot be applied to the monastic sangha. If acknowledging my shortcomings, humbling myself and explaining the differences between living as a monastic and lay person cannot bridge the gap, I really would prefer a quiet life.

There is not one day that I have not appreciated those who guide, teach and help me, including those who have and had contributed to my rescues and all the feeders as well.

Have faith in the Buddha’s teaching!

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