Animal Liberation at Kepong
Fan (right, in orange) moving the fishes from the car to the dock
Last Sunday, a group of enthusiastic volunteers and Kecharians participated in the monthly Animal Liberation Day. They all gathered at the Kepong Metropolitan Park to free fishes into the lake. Due to unforeseen weather forecast, the volunteers didn’t know that it would rain as heavy as it did. However, it didn’t stop their efforts and them accomplishing what they had set out to do!
This animal liberation was a little different for the regular volunteers…2 families spontaneously participated with them when they took notice of this compassionate act. They were clearly moved as they canceled their plans and instead took part together with the group..again, despite the heavy rain!
Kechara liberates animals every first Sunday of the month. If it’s not liberating, a dedicated team of Kecharians organizes animal feeding activities. Su Ming (one of my liaisons) and Nicholas Yu, both of Kechara Care, are very careful and considerate of the environment the fishes are released into. They always check that no over-crowding occurs and that the conditions are right.
It’s good to release animals as it creates the causes for yourself to not hurt animals and teaches you to generate compassionate towards all living beings. It also releases animals from suffering. These fishes are bought from the market and are expected to be killed and cooked the following day..
Tsem Rinpoche
Nicholas explaining to the volunteers what they’re about to do & reasons for releasing the fishes
Volunteers recite the Medicine Buddha’s mantra which are then blown over the fish to bless them before their release
A lot of kids like to participate in this activity!
More mantras are recited..
Fishes are released in the bucket-fulls!
Opening the big fish food bag, to distribute smaller packets to the other volunteers
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Kechara organised animal liberation at Metropolitan Park but has stopped recently as they were informed that there were regular fishing competition held at the lake and also, it was getting crowded for the fishes there. Now there are fish liberation at lakes in other parts of the country like Ipoh and bird liberation at Kechara Forest Retreat and even at Kechara House in Sunwaymas as well as in Johor Bahru.
Liberating these animals is giving a second lease on live for them. It is a very compassionate act, merit generating aside. We should love all animals and give them the care they deserve. If we want freedom from fear and confinement, why wouldn’t the animals?
Activities like this also teaches awareness of the plight of animals sharing this earth. There is a connection between all animals and they do have feeling too. This is a very kind teaching by Rinpoche.
Its always nice to see more and more people doing animal liberation. Its good for the people because they create merits and gain good karma. And it is also very good for the fish because they are being released into freedom, instead of being served to people as food. I loved reading this post and seeing the pics. So nice of people to be involved in this.
It would be very good if all the study groups all over participate in this activity. To create awareness that harming other beings especially defenceless animals is not ok.
Imagine if you were a fish gasping for breath as the person selling your body tries to suffocate you. Or being sliced open while still alive. Some Chinese cooking styles the fishes mouth is still moving when the deep fried fish is served up imagine that! Imagine if we were born as a fish.
As a child with no knowledge in dharma, the act of releasing animals together with my parents was all in the name of fun. Watching the birds frantically flap their wings in order to escape from within the cage to the vast open sky invoked a sense of satisfaction in me. Then, I didn’t understand the theory of cause and effect. Nor did it occur to me that liberating animals was generating compassion, or relieving the sufferings of these animals. I just knew it was a good thing to do. Now, thanks to Kecharians and Rinpoche’s teachings, I finally understand why we chant mantras to the animals, and the true reason behind this important event. It has also turned me more towards vegetarianism.
The venue for monthly Animal Liberation has gone to another place. This time instead of going to TTDI Park in Taman Tun it has change to Kepong Metropolitan Park. Nicholus Yu from Kechara Care had arranged for a group of Kecharians and volunteers to go for the Animal Liberation Programme. Instead of Liberating Animals fishes were released into the pond. The group of people consist of Nicholus Yu, Lim Han Nee and husband, chef Aw from KO and few other volunteers and children. Nicholus explained to the people the purpose of releasing the fishes. Prayers had to be recited. That would be Medicine Buddha mantras to be recited and blown on the fishes before releasing them into the pond.
It is recommended that the practice of performing Animals Liberation in the most effective way, is that it should not be done only for ourselves, or for someone who is sick or has life obstacles, but for the primary beneficial purpose of the animals. In this respect, animals bought from places where they are to be killed, should be released together with the chanting of mantras for the animals to hear, leaving imprints in their minds and a possibility that they may be able to get good human rebirths. Reciting Buddha’s teachings/ mantras for animals to hear, it is believed not only could enable them to end their samsaric sufferings but the possibility to reach enlightenment. Nevertheless, this is a good way to promote compassion towards all living beings, and at the same time to gather families and friends to do something meaningful and virtuous together – TO SET FREE THESE ANIMALS LIVES AND SUFFERINGS.