Cats who teach me to fly…

I always like retreats held at Kong Meng San. The meditation halls provide enough space and are conducive for meditation. KMS is a Mahayana temple, good thing is they make the meditation halls look like a “free thinker’s” place. There are no statues in the halls.

I was glad to have this fortune again to attend yet another retreat with a good monk, Ajahn Vajiro. Even though I have no questions, attending retreats regularly help me understand the practice of a monastic. I still need to listen! A calm composure, soft spoken, a smiley face and a well explained Dhamma are qualities I would like to emulate. 

“Anger, a Buddhist must not have anger.” He said that. He tried to explain he too has anger. It is always good that monastics acknowledge their shortcomings just as we have them too. I remember a Sri Lanka monk said that an Arhat has anger, it’s their habit, therefore, it’s ok. Well, to me, an Arhat should not have anger because as Buddha had explained, there is a way to end all fetters and meditation is the way! Perhaps the monks have overestimated themselves. I am confident to say that there should be no fetters remaining in an Arhat!

On the first day, no matter how I had disliked walking meditation at that particular timing, I pushed my dislike away. This pushed and trained me to listen and follow instructions. Humbly and happily, with all participants, I made the right effort and remained mindfully walking. 

Inspired by the Buddha, I too, like to meditate immediately after meal. I don’t usually get sleepy during meditation after meal. Q & A was interesting. However, I prefer questions that have to do with understanding the Dhamma, the Buddha’s teachings. Other questions were equally important to the person who asked.

I was down with slight flu when I got home and didn’t attend the morning session on the next day. I sat in in the afternoon, listening attentively to his teachings. Two days is good! 

I hope there are more such retreats held at KMS. Thanks Ajahn Vajiro for his teachings, KMS for the venue and Buddha Dhamma Foundation for organising this retreats. 

May all be safe and happy!

I don’t know how she survived. I heard her when I was feeding the community cats at Opal Crescent. The kitten’s cries was loud and clear. She must be a kitten! I followed the sound and there she was. Very tiny! I wasn’t able to catch her as she was skittish. Not sure if she had been fed. I left some food for her.

I didn’t see her for the next three or four days. So she had move to a “safer” place which was still Opal Crescent, around 20m away from where I saw her the first time. 

I heard her cries again. Still she didn’t move any closer to me but she ate the food I gave her. I hope to see her the next day and the next until I catch her. 

On the next day, she moved closer to the food and I was not far from where I left the food. She was too hungry. I gently tapped her head twice and I moved my fingers slowly down to the back of her neck and grabbed her!

Someone was actually interested in Sara Lee (大S), since the adopter is a first time cat owner and has no experience in cats, we recommended Mittens. Mittens is easier to manage than Sara. Sara is overly active and adopter may not be able to cope with her behaviour.

Adopter was so happy and sent lots of Mitten’s, which her name is Salma now,  photos and videos to us. 

Mittens is now four-months-old and it is good for adopters to grow up with their pets. We wish Mittens and her family good health.