Quoted from the book “The Path to Peace”. Ayya Khema was trying to explain that we should rejoice in the good fortune of all living beings. Treating others with kindness is treating ourselves with kindness. We are all one.
Feeling joyful for the animals who have food to eat, colleagues who have promoted or those who have done good deeds is the purest form of joy. Consistently practise in this way brings us inner peace.
Be kind to all living beings. Smile when pigeons have food to eat:).
Please support using humane measures to control pigeon population. Below link is the petition to end pigeon culling.
Despite going through and having endured all the pain, pigeons continue to thrive. Their legs are often entangled by strings that we litter till their legs break apart. I can imagine the pain but I can’t imagine the resilience and endurance the pigeons are suffering. Today, I still see pigeons with strings tightly tied around their feet. Some are swollen. They limp and sadly, I am not able to catch them. I’ve helped to untie the strings from two pigeons. One couldn’t survive and another was being rounded up. The fate of the two pigeons with only one foot (as we can see on the video and photos), they too couldn’t escape the trap. In the end, all had to die in the cruel hands of humans. They were gassed to death because they were dirty… because they’ve dirty our places and because we don’t like them…
They have caused completely no harm to us. It was our own selfishness that caused them so much suffering even to the end.
Perhaps we should look into ourselves again and again and ask ourselves if we want to cultivate a mind that want to kill and cause harm to others or to live generously in every way. That will bring peace to others as well as ourselves.
Life is very short. On my deathbed, I wish my mind could be filled with loving kindness. Always having a mind that benefits others and wanting others to be happy. After all, pigeons or rats, cats or dogs, pigs or elephants, fishes or humans, we all live in the same land, thrive in the same land and suffer very much the same like the animals. Doing good to others is being kind to myself. This is what I want for my life. A meaningful one!
Please support using humane measures to control pigeon population. Below link is the petition to end pigeon culling.
Just like any of us, the pigeons want to be happy as well. They definitely need food and water like us and I’ve seen them playing as well.
It was after a heavy downpour and a small pool of water had formed on the ground. Several pigeons dipped themselves into the water. Their happiness and safety are my happiness and safety… Sadly, they were rounded up by the authorities. Nothing was left but only wonderful memories of them teaching me to cherish life, be present and be strong.
We must understand the importance of coexistence!
Please support using humane measures to control pigeon population. Below link is the petition to end pigeon culling.
Fledglings hardly survive without their mummy. The fledgling in the photo was no exception. I walked to where she rested every night, always hoping she would be safe and sound and praying that I could see her every day. Then one early evening, she was found lying motionless on the road. I placed her aside and gave her my best wishes.
The surviving rate for fledglings is very low. Based on my experience, I’ve tried helping them and out of seven, only one survived…
Let us give them a chance to live and at the same time, we’re also allowing ourselves to thrive better.
Please support using humane measures to control pigeon population. Below link is the petition to end pigeon culling.
“Bhikkhus, dwell with yourselves as an island, with yourselves as a refuge, with no other refuge; with the Dhamma as an island, with the Dhamma as a refuge, with no other refuge. ~ SN 22.43
“Enough, Vakkali! Why do you want to see this foul body? One who sees the Dhamma sees me; one who sees me sees the Dhamma. For in seeing the Dhamma,Vakkali, one sees me; and in seeing me, one sees the Dhamma.” ~ SN 22.87
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I highly recommend reading the sutta translated by Piya Tan. His "Laymen Saints" has been an inspiration to many lay people.
Cats who teach me to fly... 