Cats who teach me to fly…

I’ve aways loved December because it is the coolest month of the year. A time when Ajahn Brahm, Ajahn Brahmali and many renowned buddhist teachers are in town to give their best talks.

Ajahn Brahmali gave a dhamma talk on the eve as well as Christmas day. I always prefer to spend my holidays meaningfully. I attended his talks on both days and brought home some knowledge and a little wisdom hopefully:). It is true that if we walk the path that Buddha did not teach, the teachings where Buddha originally taught would collape. I see the danger in moving away from the Buddha’s original teachings.

The idea of a Bodhisattva is very attractive to the lay people because everyone wants to be a Bodhisattva. I learned by the hard way that there is no Boddhisattva path. In the latest Vimalakirti sutra, it is said that to be a Bodhisattva, we have to break the precepts and this is completely wrong and dangerous. Buddha didn’t break his precepts, did he? Buddha has always told us the importance of keeping the precepts. There was never once he told us that breaking the precepts can be exceptional in any circumstances. If anyone is into the Bodhisattva path, please do not be misled by such ideas.

Suttas is the best teachings. No one can defeat the Buddha’s teachings. We shouldn’t pick up knowledge and wisdom elsewhere. Even if we do like the teachings from other teachers, we have to always remember to refer to the suttas to verify if the teachings are right or true. If only I’ve known the pali texts before the Bodhisattva path… I’ve never regret being a cats rescuer, occasionally dogs and birds, they all made me a better buddhist and the people who gave me a hard time. They made me even a better buddhist.

And on the 28th, Ajahn Brahm was in town for a day retreat. I was there for his entire talk. I always believe heavenly beings are often here to help us and Ajahn Brahm had shared some of his wonderful experiences!

There’s a zoom meeting on 1st of January 23 where Ajahn Brahm would teach again. Looking forward!

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I’ve read a lot about people waking up finding their cats dead the next morning and I hope this will never happen to me but it did…

I got up and saw one of my cat lying in a scratching box. I’ve never seen any cat ever sleep like this before. Something seems wrong. I went over to shake her leg and see if she was moving. MCC was cold, stiff and lifeless. I can’t believe she would go off just like this. I can’t believe that I could lost her just like this. I was unprepared.

MCC was a little overweight. She was independent and usually we need to “force” carry and cuddle her and she would struggle a little and will be ok and comfortable in a few seconds. We cuddled her like a baby. Vanilla and Sparkie were her brothers and Cashie loved her and she too loved all of them. They were always together forming a loving group. They are my first batch of rescues.

MCC when she was a baby. The only girl in the litter.

Now I started to realise that the rescues that weren’t adopted are the same like those we’ve adopted. Vanilla, Sparkie and now MCC, they shouldn’t be called our rescues, they were adopted. It is the same feeling that I had when I lost my first cat. They all made me up. They made me a better person.

Did MCC suffer a heart attack? We would likely think that she did. To be honest, it really scares me in a way that I was unprepared and I wasn’t given a chance to spend time with her. As a buddhist, I believe we’ll meet again and hopefully when I meet all of them again, it will be in a Dharma learning hall!

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We found Kiki 2 to 3 years ago or perhaps longer. He was deliberately released to our feeding area or abandoned, which is a more appropriate word to use and which is nothing new! He is named Kiki because we’re running out of names:).

With the way that Kiki walks, it tells us that he is a very old man. He can’t jump and requires extra effort to climb up just one step. We left him as a community cat for a few years before we took him home. He is a permanent resident since 30 November this year!

The first night was horrible. We had to keep him in the cage so as to allow him and others to integrate themselves slowly and without harming one another. However, Kiki meowed the entire night and the following nights. If I didn’t get to sleep well at night, there is always a chance to take a short nap in the day. Before I go to sleep, I’ll have to make sure that his bowl of kibbles and water are filled up and a whole can of wet food as well. With this, at least I can sleep peacefully till 7a.m. He still meows but not as often as he did.

So far Kiki has been, eating, sleeping , peeing and pooping well. We shall leave him for now. May he feel safe under the roof!

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He was all fine the night before…

It was drizzling that night and I saw a grey cat lying on the grass. No cat would sleep in the rain and I knew something wasn’t right. He was lifeless. No wound or injuries. Perhaps the rain washed away his blood… And I think he probably met some kind of accident shortly after I fed him the night before.

慈忠 was always the first cat who greeted me. He would run over to me and walk me to the feeding area. He was the first to get his food and after feeding him, I’d go feed the rest and would come back to him again and offer him another round of food before my night is done at Hougang. He would patiently wait for me and sometimes would go around looking for me if he wasn’t eating enough.

The “basketball” court where I used to feed him and the rest is now empty. I often think of them when I look over the court. Remembering who and who was there, what they were doing, how they rushed towards me and where they rest after their meal. Today, they were all history…

Although I wasn’t given an opportunity to bring him home but thank to whoever left him on the grass which gave me a chance at least to cremate him.

Thank you 慈忠 for giving me another kind of experience. An experience of understanding and practising the Dharma.

May 慈忠 have a favourite rebirth…

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May all sentient beings in the animal realm subject to unbearable pain in labs throughout the world be free from suffering.

May alternatives to animal experimentation and testing be used immediately.

May compassion fill the hearts of those who imprison them.

May all sentient beings from the animal realm who suffer endless days, months, years locked in tiny cages unable to move, be filled with peace and calm.

May the many billions waiting in slaughter house lines be free of fear.

May the hearts of those who work in abattoirs be filled with loving kindness so the very thought of harm is purified.

May they never kill again and may the slaughter house lines become immediately empty.

May no animal be afraid or depressed.

May their bodies be free of injuries, disease and illness.

May those who need homes, or who have been driven from them find shelter, plentiful food & water.

May there be liberation for those tortured for fur, entertainment or who are hunted.

May those who believe they are superior to our brother & sister animals develop perfect equanimity.

And may they realise in their hearts that all sentient beings possess Buddha nature.

And they are not ours to kill or exploit.

May the many billions of land and sea dwelling sentient beings who are abused, exploited and killed due to greed, hatred and ignorance be free of suffering

May they experience complete and perfect enlightenment, through the virtue of my efforts and prayers.

May I be a voice for the voiceless.

In short, may all human and non-human sentient beings live together in harmony, peace and equanimity and achieve perfect Enlightenment quickly.

This is the prayer I recite every morning as well as my wish for all animal across the world.

Prayer taken from https://moonpointer.com/new/2012/06/buddhist-prayer-for-animal-liberation/

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