animal liberation part 1
today is a special day.
today is Chokhor Duchen; the Birthday of His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche' and our National Day- the Birthday of our country.
for me, it's special because it is the first time i did actual animal liberation, out in the open seas... after hearing so much about the benefits of liberating animals from imminent danger and death and miraculous sights of bright white and rainbow circle light. i knew that i had to do this meritorious activity.
karma works in strange ways. an fwd email received; several sms sent. before i knew it, i was on the bum boat at changi village jetty.
it was a bright and sunny day. i was like an excited schoolboy on a eca excursion. this is what i really need to fight my depressed state of mind. sun, sea and saving sentient beings.
at the fish farm, i was saddened by the sights of fish, lobsters and shell fish, swimming and moving around in shallow, overcrowded waters and helplessly trapped by nets. so this is how our seafood is breed and harvested for our selfish gastronomical pleasure.
deep down, i felt glad we were here today, at least we would make a difference to a couple thousand lives. it was also inspiring to see so many fellow friends, chanting mantras, pouring blessed water into the nets and spreading love and compassion.
another exciting thing was that the visiting Abbot of Gaden Jangtse Monastery, Khen Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel was there to lead the animal liberation prayers. since i did not have the karma to attend his teaching, i knew i had to meet him and make offerings.
as the prayers began, there i was, standing in line; rain falling down; passing netted baskets of fish and transferring them into the tanks on our bum boats. when it started to rain, lightly at first and increasing in intensity, i felt moved, knowing that i was truly making a difference to the fish in the nets. to my mind, raindrops falling down was like tears of compassion, like dew drops of nectar, blessing all the sentient beings on the very fish farm.
by the time, all the tanks on our bum boats were filled with fish, the rain stopped. all of us went out further to sea to return them free to their natural home. it's really great to release the fish into the open sea.
on one hand, we prolonged their brief lives and protected them of death and danger. on the other hand, we prevented some seafood restaurant diners, maybe including some of us, and the restaurant chefs from committing negative karma of killing and harming another sentient beings.
we rejoiced and may all sentient beings be completely happy and free of suffering.
thank you, derrick and chan for emails and sms.
thank you, yc and all the kind volunteers for organising animal liberation.
note:
Chokhor Duchen is the 4th day of the 6th month, which is doubled in the Tibetan calendar this year. For seven weeks after his enlightenment, Buddha did not teach. Finally, encouraged by Indra and Brahma, he turned the Wheel of Dharma for the first time, at Sarnath, by teaching the "Four Noble Truths". One of the four Great Festivals (duchen) during the year relate to the life of Buddha Shakyamuni, at which time the effects of positive actions or negative actions are multiplied 10 million times. The present Abbot of Gaden Jangtse Monastery, Khen Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel, said that if there is doubled merit multiplying day, the second one is even more meritorious than the first one.
today is Chokhor Duchen; the Birthday of His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche' and our National Day- the Birthday of our country.
for me, it's special because it is the first time i did actual animal liberation, out in the open seas... after hearing so much about the benefits of liberating animals from imminent danger and death and miraculous sights of bright white and rainbow circle light. i knew that i had to do this meritorious activity.
karma works in strange ways. an fwd email received; several sms sent. before i knew it, i was on the bum boat at changi village jetty.
it was a bright and sunny day. i was like an excited schoolboy on a eca excursion. this is what i really need to fight my depressed state of mind. sun, sea and saving sentient beings.
at the fish farm, i was saddened by the sights of fish, lobsters and shell fish, swimming and moving around in shallow, overcrowded waters and helplessly trapped by nets. so this is how our seafood is breed and harvested for our selfish gastronomical pleasure.
deep down, i felt glad we were here today, at least we would make a difference to a couple thousand lives. it was also inspiring to see so many fellow friends, chanting mantras, pouring blessed water into the nets and spreading love and compassion.
another exciting thing was that the visiting Abbot of Gaden Jangtse Monastery, Khen Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel was there to lead the animal liberation prayers. since i did not have the karma to attend his teaching, i knew i had to meet him and make offerings.
as the prayers began, there i was, standing in line; rain falling down; passing netted baskets of fish and transferring them into the tanks on our bum boats. when it started to rain, lightly at first and increasing in intensity, i felt moved, knowing that i was truly making a difference to the fish in the nets. to my mind, raindrops falling down was like tears of compassion, like dew drops of nectar, blessing all the sentient beings on the very fish farm.
by the time, all the tanks on our bum boats were filled with fish, the rain stopped. all of us went out further to sea to return them free to their natural home. it's really great to release the fish into the open sea.
on one hand, we prolonged their brief lives and protected them of death and danger. on the other hand, we prevented some seafood restaurant diners, maybe including some of us, and the restaurant chefs from committing negative karma of killing and harming another sentient beings.
we rejoiced and may all sentient beings be completely happy and free of suffering.
thank you, derrick and chan for emails and sms.
thank you, yc and all the kind volunteers for organising animal liberation.
note:
Chokhor Duchen is the 4th day of the 6th month, which is doubled in the Tibetan calendar this year. For seven weeks after his enlightenment, Buddha did not teach. Finally, encouraged by Indra and Brahma, he turned the Wheel of Dharma for the first time, at Sarnath, by teaching the "Four Noble Truths". One of the four Great Festivals (duchen) during the year relate to the life of Buddha Shakyamuni, at which time the effects of positive actions or negative actions are multiplied 10 million times. The present Abbot of Gaden Jangtse Monastery, Khen Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel, said that if there is doubled merit multiplying day, the second one is even more meritorious than the first one.