Stories from a Chela – Blessing the Animal Realm
The Animal Realm is often portrayed in the Buddhist Wheel of Life as one of the Six Realms in which sentient beings take rebirth again and again, due to the force of our karma. The only way out of this cycle is by gaining enlightenment.
A ‘chela’ is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘student’. In particular, this word refers to the student of a spiritual teacher. Within this series of short posts, I will be sharing stories about His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche. Hopefully through these stories, you will get a glimpse of how Tsem Rinpoche and the Dharma that Rinpoche shares has not only benefited me but countless others.
Six Realms of Existence
As many people already know, within Buddhism we believe in Six Realms of Existence. These are realms that we all take rebirth in again and again. This phenomena is also known as samsara or cyclic existence. The six realms are:
- The God Realm
- The Demi-God Realm
- The Human Realm
- The Animal Realm
- The Hungry Ghost Realm
- The Hell Realm
Within Buddhist teachings, it is said that the only way to reach complete enlightenment is to develop the unwavering attitude of compassion towards all beings within these Six Realms. And so practices, from the physical to the meditational, developed over time to achieve this. Many of these were taught by the historical Buddha himself, such as giving food to the needy. Others developed over time, as various masters and enlightened beings taught methods to ignite that sense of enlightened compassion within all of us.
Rinpoche and Insects
Those who know of Rinpoche know that Rinpoche is a great animal lover. He takes care of them in whatever way he can, an example of showing kindness and practising that spirit of compassion that we need on our spiritual journey. From giving food to the homeless and starting Kechara Soup Kitchen to encourage others to do the same, to building Kechara Forest Retreat’s aviary to show kindness to our feathered friends, Rinpoche is constantly extending his compassion to the beings of the Six Realms.
Tsem Rinpoche is a huge animal lover, wherever he goes.
It is well-known that whichever car Rinpoche travels in is stocked with food and drink for stray animals on the streets. Whenever Rinpoche sees stray animals, Rinpoche asks the students in the car to alight and feed the animals while reciting mantras. It is also a common occurrence that Rinpoche winds down his windows and recites mantras and prayers loud enough so that nearby animals can be blessed with the imprints of enlightenment.
Medicine Buddha practice and mantras are excellent to bless animals with seeds of enlightenment for their future lifetimes. Click here to see more beautiful images of the enlightened beings.
But when we think of animals, we usually think of the bigger kinds, like dogs and cats, pets, farm animals and wild animals. But one extremely large group of animals that we often overlook are insects. Kechara Forest Retreat is located in the deep jungles of Bentong in Pahang, Malaysia. And as a tropical country, there are many, many types of insects in the area. Rinpoche has maintained a lot of the forested areas and replanted trees and shrubs in areas that needed to be cleared for construction purposes. These areas are full of insects which are taken care of as well.
Rinpoche regularly asks students to bring fresh fruits to his room or even bread. Rinpoche does prayers on these and then asks the students to leave the fruits in forested areas around Kechara Forest Retreat for the insects to eat. But it is more than physical sustenance that Rinpoche is providing for these insects. Through the prayers and mantras that Rinpoche and the students recite, the insects are blessed with the enlightened energies of the Buddhas and seeds of enlightenment are planted in their mindstreams.
Due to the form that insects and other animals have taken rebirth in, they are unable to practise the Dharma. So, from our part, it is a compassionate deed when we plant the seeds of enlightenment in their minds through the energies of the Buddhas. One practice that Rinpoche often recommends for this purpose is Medicine Buddha, and this is the practice that Rinpoche advises his students to do when feeding animals.
When Medicine Buddha mantras are recited and then blown on the food that these animals or insects eat, their bodies and minds are blessed through the power of Medicine Buddha. In the future, these blessings or seeds of enlightenment can open up in one of their future rebirths, and they will be able to connect with the Dharma and progress on their spiritual path towards enlightenment. Here is a list of some mantras that Rinpoche recommends for the blessing of animals. They can be recited by anyone and then blown directly onto the animals or their food.
- Medicine Buddha mantra:
TAYATHA OM BEKANZE BEKANZE MAHA BEKANZE BEKANZE RANDZA SAMUGATHE SOHA - Manjushri mantra:
OM AH RA BA TSA NA DHI - Tara mantra:
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA - Chenrezig mantra:
OM MANI PEME HUNG - Dorje Shugden mantra:
OM BENZA WIKI BITANA SOHA
In this way, we are shown that we should think of others and animals not just in regards to their current lives but in regards to their future lives as well.
Rinpoche and students feeding stray dogs, a common occurrence when Rinpoche goes out.
For more interesting information:
- Stories from a Chela – Real Transformation
- Stories from a Chela – Za Rahula and Strange Habits
- Stories from a Chela – Spiritual Nourishment for All
- Stories from a Chela – The Lama that Builds
- Stories from a Chela – The Teaching in the Tea
- Stories from a Chela – Incense Offering That Saves Lives
- Stories from a Chela – Supernatural Protection
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If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
It is so true that we often overlook insects, they are so tiny and fragile, especially the ants. I was told by a colleague that there is a mantra to chant to bless the insects, many times insects get killed by oversight. The mantra can open up their future rebirths and allow them connect with the Dharma.
Kechara Forest Retreat is a deep tropical jungles in Bentong. You can see many types of insects around. It is so sweet to know Rinpoche regularly asks his students to bring fresh fruits or bread for him to does prayers, then feed the insects to eat. I hope human and animals, insects can share the nature and benefits each other in a balance way.
To practice compassion, I think we need to start with the basic one, at least animals first. Many of us would think that, they are only animals. But animals are so much like you and me, they have feelings.
Compassion is passion with a heart ,with no boundaries.Let our hearts be stretched out in compassion to all sentient beings.Thank you so much for sharing this good article with us.
Whether they are animals or insects, they are still living beings. As they are not in the form that are able to learn dharma, we should make ways for them to be connected to dharma to help them in their future rebirth. Rinpoche has showed us many ways to care for them, as easy as feeding them and blowing mantra to them. Whatever the method, we just need to put effort and continue with the practise.
Thank you for sharing with us how we can help animals other than dogs and cats. Since insects are very small, we don’t usually take note of their needs. In fact, we don’t really like to have small insects around us. We usually will find ways to repel them. However, they are still beings that we should treat them the same as other beings. When we have surplus of food, we can recite mantras on them and feed leave the food out to feed the insects.
What’s a live like of living with a Boddhisattva? Everyday Rinpoche filled his day with love. A type of love that unconditional. Love that all are equal. No matter what you are, Rinpoche will reach out and find a way to benefit you. To plant a dharma seed in you. Need not talk about if you had became Rinpoche’s student.
We some how learned how to tolerate and accept the fact that we cannot kill insects when we meet any of them by living in Kechara Forest Retreat, a forest filled with all types of big and small insects. Any how we will never think of to feed them. We can feed stray dogs and cats, but not insects. But to a living Boddhisattva like Rinpoche, who sees all as equal, he constantly care about them.
No one want to take rebirth as an insects but due to our heavy karma from there pass, there are chances of becoming one. Hence our Guru showed us how to be kind even to an insects.
Before I met Rinpoche, I would never think of feeding animals nor care for them. Rinpoche taught so many of us how to be kind and compassionate. Most of all, how to be a better person. The animals have no way to express how they feel but we can. That’s why we should do what we can for them. Eg chanting mantras to their food, water or even their body to bless them because they can’t.
A true compassion doesn’t matter whether they are human, four legged animals, 8 legged insects, reptiles, amphibians, etc or what. A true compassion is for all beings, including spirits and ghost. Rinpoche really showed us what a true compassion is. Even it’s just feeding them with fruits and breads, but they are blessed fruits and breads. To practice compassion, I think we need to start with the basic one, at least animals first. Many of us would think that, they are only animals. But animals are so much like you and me, they have feelings, they have bloods, and they feel pain. Even if we don’t like them, but at least start with an animal that we like. Just like what Rinpoche used to say, “fake it until make it”.
I’ve really learned a lot from Tsem Rinpoche & it changed the way I live in a better way.
So much more we can do to benefit the others, not only human being but animals, spirits & all other sentient beings from the other realms.
Being alive , It’s not just about me but all.
Before I meet Rinpoche, I don’t like animal at all even a dog and I am fear of dog too. After I met Rinpcohe , I had seen how Rinpoche very passionate against animals’s harm and abuse that inspired me to start to care about animal. Now, I have no more fear of dogs. I always remember Rinpoche mentioned that animal can not express their pain and suffering but they are just like us they have feeling. That is why caring about animals is not only feed them but need to care how they feel too. I always like to chant OM MANI PEME HUNG to the animals and wish them not to take rebirth again in animal realm.
All sentient beings deserved to be loved and care. Being born as human, we should show more love and compassion especially to those unspoken, tiny beings. Truly grateful what I practice being compassion is not only chanting mantras to animals or insects, plants as well. I was taught chanting mantras and blow on the water while watering plants. It works and the plants are growing beautifully well. ?
Animals just like humans want to live a happy life, so does every sentient being. Animal lovers all over the world take the time to not just care for animals but to champion against animal cruelty. Pet lovers treat their pets as part of their family, and spend quality time with them in taking care of their health, hygiene, food, exercise… And not having pets because they are cute or to protect their human friends and their houses. Many people clean up after when they take their animal friends for walks, not leaving the droppings behind for others to accidentally step on. This is a good practice.
Countless insects are killed every day through the use of chemicals by farmers so that consumers will buy their vegetables and fruits. We continue to buy these produce yet knowing very well they are laced with pesticides because they look good aesthetically.
Rinpoche is forever so loving and compassion to animals starting from the biggest size until the smallest insects. Previously I will try to get rid of insects which is harmful to us but after learning the teachings from Rinpoche about Karma, I have tried to kill less insects with intention. Sometimes , I might accidentally killed it along the way which I did not see it coming. Sometimes I will also try to chant and blow mantra on dead animals which also has been taught by Rinpoche. I am grateful to know and learn all this.
Rinpoche has always been very very kind to all beings in all realms, not only animals. But what i have learnt from Rinpoche is i always blow mantras into the food that i will be feeding the animals, and also where the animals’ direction like for instance fishes which i love to do regularly. My favourite mantra will be Medicine Buddha mantra.
Rinpoche’s boundless love and compassion extend , in the animal realm, to include even insects. Insects are usually small and are more often than not conceived of as pests. Hence we generally pay scant , if any, attention to them. Nonetheless, reading this post, has awakened in me a compassion for them as beings who, out of benighted ignorance, are unable to help themselves, because they cannot understand or study the Dharma, and hence are unable to practice the Dharma and gain ultimate peace and Enlightenment.
Rinpoche’s care for them goes beyond this life to their future lives. Rinpoche has taught us to recite mantras, like the powerfully effective Medicine Buddha mantra, and blow on them. This will bless them with the enlightened energies of the Buddhas and plant seeds of Enlightenment in them. How wonderful!
Compassion knows no borders or boundries. We should be compassionate to all beings no matter the form. I don’t often see stray animals where I live, but I do tend to offer food to the Steller’s Jays, Crows, other birds, squirrels in my local area. Peanuts and sunflower seeds are big hit too them. Not too much is put down, as I don’t want to attract bears which are also local to my area but just enough for the birds etc to have a meal. I recite mantras over the food before I offer it. I feel good about helping animals out especially during fall and winter when food is scarce.
Due to Rinpoche’s compassion, kindness and care , we are able to learn and practice Dharma. We were taught by Rinpoche as what the historical Buddha’s teachings is. Giving foods to the needy, homeless and so forth are some of the example to be compassionate, kind and caring as well. Rinpoche have extended his compassion to insects, animals too, feeding stray animals on the streets, reciting mantras and prayers to bless them loud enough with the imprints of enlightenment. An example for us to follow. Let our hearts be stretched out in compassion to all sentient beings. Compassion is passion with a heart ,with no boundaries.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Niral Patel for this sharing.
Compassion ideally should encompass all beings. While animals are one of the easier to show compassion to, many neglect to do so. This is evident in how many meat eaters compared to vegetarians. One way of showing compassion towards animals is to stop consuming meat and using leather products.
I like the part on mantras recommended to bless animals. This is really good for those who would like to take their spiritual practice to another level.
Thank you for this great post!