Cats who teach me to fly…

Both Cashie and Monnie were adopted when they were four months old. Sadly, Cashie had to leave us for good… As Monnie celebrated her 10 years old birthday, all my cats including the community cats and myself have grown old. Unknowingly Elk is already more than 10 years old. 保保 and 佑佑 are 8 years old next month. Even Yellow is going to be 10 this September. Vara and brothers are 7. Gosh…

It was hard to get Monnie to sit still. She is still the small kitten she used to be. The way she meows tells us that she knows she is being loved and spoilt. It is the same meow when she was a kitten. Knead and bite me just like she was four months old! I love to call her 满满.

Nagar and Futian are still having the same issue. Glad that Futian is able to keep Nagar accompany. It’s a small place for Nagar and Futian doesn’t mind sleeping together with her. Even cats are humble :)! And Nagar has been with us for four years. I want to remember both of them in this way.

The last thing I can do is to love and cherish them. I’ve always prefer to get my work done at home and only go out when necessary. Time is too short for us… I want to spend more time with them and pay more attention to the community cats!

Both of then have put on weight, especially Ajwa. I couldn’t even recognise her.

Finally this naughty boy was adopted. Owners love the name Royce and loves him too!

Their owners keep their names as well. They are the siblings of Ajwa and Mochi. Both of them did not put much weight like Ajwa and Mochi. Perhaps their owners have their concern. In such cases, we would continue to do a follow up with the owners.

She has grown so big now! She was just a little kitten roaming around by herself when I picked her home.

And finally Bourbon. Bourbon is completely spoilt by his owner. All rescuers would prefer that actually ha…

I hope to get a few cats adopted in year 2023 ans wee are all ready for the adoption drive!

Pretty went missing since last Monday. We have been feeding Pretty for more than 9 years. We knew she was old already. We tried to catch her but we couldn’t. She didn’t allow us to touch her.

I still leave food every night at the usual place where she eats. I’ll carry on doing so for another week, just in case she returns… and will stop after 2 weeks of waiting.

Before I left for retreat at Jhana Grove, I told myself I’ll bring all the cats home from Hougang when I’m back . But 慈忠 and Pretty must be caught first. We tried but failed. The rest were easy to catch.

Finally, our mission was done yesterday.

It wasn’t difficult to put the cats into the carriers. What’s finished is done! And it was done beautifully on the last night of 2022.

We took the 4 and they are with Melanie. They can’t be caged and Mel has a master room which is big enough to accommodate all of them. I really have Mel to thank. And from 2023, I’ll have 1½ hours of free time in the evening. This free time should be used to create slides and animation for propagating the Dhamma. It is specially dedicated to all the cats, all whom we’re in touch with and the future productions will be dedicated to all sentient beings.

And I’m already in the mist of painting the monks…

Lots of rest for me in this new year too…

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!