Freedom the amazing
Dear friends,
I came across this incredible touching story and had to blog it. It shows our deep and close relationship with so many living beings that we would have never imagined. It is important to realize our life is short and to give it purpose without bringing harm to any living being.
Please read this story and share it with others. Animals matter also and Freedom shows us this. Remember to care for all animals, never hurt them and never bring harm.
Tsem Rinpoche
Freedom and Jeff Freedom and I have been together 11 years this summer. She came in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings. Her left wing doesn’t open all the way even after surgery, it was broken in 4 places. She’s my baby.
When Freedom came in she could not stand and both wings were broken. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vet’s office. From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off, and it was loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to lay in. I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight; and she would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes. We also had to tube feed her for weeks.
This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn’t stand. It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn’t stand in a week. You know you don’t want to cross that line between torture and rehab, and it looked like death was winning. She was going to be put down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon. I didn’t want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn’t bear the thought of her being euthanized; but I went anyway, and when I walked in everyone was grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her cage; and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle. She was ready to live. I was just about in tears by then. That was a very good day.
We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove train her. I got her used to the glove, and then to jesses, and we started doing education programs for schools in western Washington . We wound up in the newspapers, radio (believe it or not) and some TV. Miracle Pets even did a show about us.
In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I had stage 3, which is not good (one major organ plus everywhere), so I wound up doing 8 months of chemo. Lost the hair – the whole bit. I missed a lot of work When I felt good enough, I would go to Sarvey and take Freedom out for walks. Freedom would also come to me in my dreams and help me fight the cancer. This happened time and time again.
Fast forward to November 2000
The day after Thanksgiving, I went in for my last checkup. I was told that if the cancer was not all gone after 8 rounds of chemo, then my last option was a stem cell transplant Anyway, they did the tests; and I had to come back Monday for the results. I went in Monday, and I was told that all the cancer was gone.
So the first thing I did was get up to Sarvey and take the big girl out for a walk. It was misty and cold. I went to her flight and jessed her up, and we went out front to the top of the hill. I hadn’t said a word to Freedom, but somehow she knew. She looked at me and wrapped both her wings around me to where I could feel them pressing in on my back (I was engulfed in eagle wings), and she touched my nose with her beak and stared into my eyes, and we just stood there like that for I don’t know how long . That was a magic moment. We have been soul mates ever since she came in. This is a very special bird.
On a side note: I have had people who were sick come up to us when we are out, and Freedom has some kind of hold on them. I once had a guy who was terminal come up to us and I let him hold her. His knees just about buckled and he swore he could feel her power course through his body. I have so many stories like that…
I never forget the honor I have of being so close to such a magnificent spirit as Freedom.
Jeff Guidry
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/jeffeagle.mp4
Source: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2841023/posts
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Beautiful story of how Jeff Freedom took a baby eagle in 1998 with two broken wings . Barely could not even stand and both wings were broken. Her physical condition was so bad more she was emaciated and covered in lice. Jeff Freedom made the right decision to give her a chance to live.
After all nursed and surgery done on this poor eagle, through weeks she still not standing on her own. And it’s a miracle before she was able to stand just a day before she was to be euthanized. With Jeff Freedom’s patience and training the beautiful eagle named Freedom was able to fly. Amazing. The story goes on when Jeff Freedom was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and after been with Freedom , he was cured of his diseases . She is a special bird coming into his dreams and helping Jeff to fight the cancer. A beautiful read truly inspiring , never give up.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
Love heals….
It’s not that kind of empty word but it truly shines from the heart, from one being to another. Animals are capable of showinh love and this can’t be denied.
This is such a lovely and heart-warming story between an animal and a human. They supported each other to fight for their lives and then together, they make a difference in other people’s lives!
Love and compassion don’t have to be expressed by words, it is by action and by the energy we radiate. Animals can feel our motivation, they know if we are hostile or we are friendly to them. When we have their trust, they can be the most loyal friend we will ever have.
Never hurt another life, be it a human’s life or an animal’s. We can always start with adopting a vegetarian diet so we don’t cause suffering to animals. Besides, a vegetarian diet is way healthier than having meat.
Really amazing to get know the relationship of an eagle and its owner.It is time for human to show kindness and love to the animals.The easiest way to show kindness by not torture them.
Love is universal even without a single word,it radiates and all beings can feel it.Thank you very much for sharing such a good and an inspirational story to all animals lover.
This is really amazing, I never know Freedom (Eagle), can become a soulmate to Jeff Guidry. To the certain extent, their love for each other has created a healing energy.
All the animals has feeling, which in the story of Jeff Guidry is clearly showed that.
Now who say that, animal is part of our food and they don’t have feeling.
So whoever out there, still consume meat, poultry, seafood or using the animals for performance. I urge you to stop this now
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing this article
A very touching story of a pet and the owner. Many people said that animals have no feelings but Freedom clearly shows the otherwise. She hugged Jeff on the day that he was free from cancer. So warm. And when Jeff is not well, she will support him. Such an incredible relationship.
Touching…..there must be some incredible bond between Freedom and Jeff Guidry. Freedom is just an eagle yet Jeff have Freedom for more than 11 years from a injured baby eagle been taken care and nursed to a healthy eagle. Amazing Jeff never gave up on Freedom as eagle would be euthanize due to very bad conditions with broken wings, emaciated and covered in lice.
Freedom is very special bird and was a soul mate to Jeff so much so it’s a miracle that Jeff was cancer free after what he has gone through with Freedom.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing…… a touching story. Animal do have feelings and do not hurt them. They are like us needs love and care. They deserved a chance to live.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article. Freedom is such a special eagle. Jeff was so kind to take her to the vet when her wings were broken. He even took her in as her own pet. Both Jeff and Freedom were so fortunate to have each other’s company when both were unwell. Animals do have feelings too. The kind of bonding between Jeff and Freedom was through their up and down days together. I wish both of them well.
With folded palms,
Vivian
Freedom’s story is very touching, she was very lucky to have met Jeff, if it was someone else, I can’t say that Freedom would still be here, in this world. I think their connection between each other is very strong, especially Jeff has been there for her since young. It’s really awesome to have this kind of connection between other species.
Dear Rinpoche, I think Freedom might be a reincarnation of a powerful God/Angel/Buddha. When Jeff said that Freedom hugged him, it’s like I’m getting a feeling being hugged by a eagle myself of course that was my imagination but the feeling being hugged by a loving pet is very touching.
万物皆有灵性，只要我们稍微注意,用心宠物们都会感受得到。
By looking at the first picture of Jeff and Freedom they are like father and his child. Even human being can have such beautiful relationship with an eagle,thus i strongly believed that they must have very strong karmic link in their past lives and they continued their friendships in this lives even they are in a different form,such an incredible touching story for sharing.
Thank you Rinpoche for this post.
This bird can’t talk, he can’t drive, he can’t cook a meal, he doesn’t have money to give, he requires constant care, he can’t even make a cup of tea…. Yet, this bird has been the best support to Jedd Guidry in times of great need.
It shows: help does not come from others giving it to you, help comes from us giving it to others.
A strong bond is forged between one being and another,when both are able to step into each other’s shoes and empathize with each other. This bond becomes very powerful, as it transcends all perceived barriers. Such is the case between Jeff and his ‘soul mate’ and pet eagle, Freedom.
It is amazing that Freedom can love her master so much that she releases a powerful positive healing energy because of that love. That energy healed Jeff of his cancer.
I may not be Jeff and my youngest rescued cat and pet , Zoey, may not be Freedom ; but I have a special bond with her, like that of a mother-and-child. This is because she was only 1 week old and near death when my maid and I rescued her about 2 years ago. My maid and I had to feed her with a syringe and a special milk formula for cats.
Even up to the present day, whenever she feels sleepy, she will come to me(when I am around) and ‘ask’ to be hugged and coddled(like a baby).
Amazing true life story on how animals can give strength to humans to lift their spirits up. This story shows us on how Jeff gave hope, love and care to Freedom and how Freedom repay his kindness when Jeff needed it. Animals do know what is going on and they can reciprocate the love the got. That eagle looks so stately. A friendship without words but through love.
Is it since the history where animals are the best friend a human can have, they never betray human, they never use human, they never abandon human, but it is human who betray them, use them and abandon them.
Freedom is very fortunate to have met Jeff who saved her life, but Jeff is even more fortunate to have met freedom because he got his bestest friend who will walk through all the thicks and thins in his life. It is so beautiful to see friendship like this, a friendship without an expiry date.
Such a touching relationship. Im so glad that this eagle stood up before it got out down. It would have been such a shame for such an amazing animal to be put down. And it was due to this mans kindness, that this bird is still alive today. I am so happy for him and the bird.
Boundless compassion, are believed can be found amongst those who have attained ultimate wisdom, as said in the Sutra: “The Heart of Buddha is boundless and loving kindness and compassion”. So with a boundless heart, one should cherish all beings,radiating kindness over the entire world. We may not be able to prevent the disasters of life, but we can find skillful ways to unbind our sense of being, so that suffering is transformed into an awakened-heart that can do great good in the World. For those who can do good to others will ultimately receive goodness for oneself, as shown in this classic case of “Freedom the amazing”, and many more.
Amazing! This is truly touching. Its incredible how intelligent some animals may be. Its such a wonderful story how they both met and cared for each other and got each other through such hard times. Its also really good that freedom was able to help comfort many sick people as well. Im glad he shared this story with everyone. I hope more stories like this would be able to convince more people to become vegetarians because animals show compassion when we show compassion. Dogs are even loyal and love their owners even when they mistreat them. Animals were not made for us to eat, but for us to learn to be compassionate, kind, tolerant and love. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story Rinpoche. I hope Rinpoche is feeling well.
Dear Rinpoche, I wonder what happened to Freedom before Jeff found her. What could injured a bird till when Jeff found Freedom, she could not stand and both wings were broken she was emaciated and covered in lice.I am just happy that Jeff Freedom and Freedom is still soul mates to each other. I wish they both have a good health and long live.
Dear Rinpoche,I just want to thank you for such a beautiful story!! Iknow animals can be healing Angels. They are in so many aspects better than people. Most of them so much better than the humans.Thanks again for such a beautiful video and story 🙂
I love Tsem Rinpoche’s blog because of these amazing stories. I think that these amazing stories reveal the fact that if animals can reciprocate kindness, so can us humans. Animals are not mere objects to be used for our food, entertainment and so forth. This is a great lesson for all of us and it is also very touching to see the bond between a man and a bird, which transcends the limitation of communication and language. The universal language of all beings should be kindness and not exploitation and cruelty. As part of this earth and having been endowed with intelligence, human beings must and have to assume proper responsibility to care for others. This story exemplifies this ideal and that we are all truly equals especially in the eyes of kindness and compassion.
Humans and animals have had spectacular relationships throughout history and this is one of them. Jeff’s care for Freedom is very touching and the relationship built up between them through this care is so powerful. I do believe that Freedom helped Jeff clear his cancer and that Freedom has the ability to give positive and thus healing energy to others. This is one good reason to treasure and respect animals. Animals are not here to serve human beings but to coexist in mutual understanding and this story is one of the best evidence of why this should be. If Freedom had been euthanized, even if for the best motivations, Jeff might not have lived. It just shows how the decisions we make can affect us in the long term. An incredible story! Thank you for sharing this.
So true what you said Sharon especially how Jeff’s genuine and real wish for Freedom to live, and his acting on that wish, may very well have created the positive karma for Jeff to overcome his own life-threatening disease. The effect of preserving the life of another is that we create the karma for our own life to be preserved. This itself is a good reason to be kind to animals and never neglect or abuse them.
Between Jeff and Freedom is a very real and tangible bond but I may not have been able to see it if Buddhism had not taught me to see with eyes that recognize all sentient beings as being equally capable of experiencing suffering and pain. It is our common ability to feel pain and be afraid of it that connects all beings and once connected, we no longer see them as being so different. Clearly to Jeff, Freedom is not just a bird and similarly neither is Jeff to Freedom,someone or something harmful to fear. They have something much more between a man and an eagle.
Such a heart warming story! With love, they both healed each other and share that special connection and a loving relationship. It was really kind of Jeff to take care of Freedom and never gave up on her. I like the part where Freedom hugged Jeff. Shows how much they mean to each other. I am happy that they both survived the bitter pain and okay now. The positive energy that they both exude is just amazing! May they continue to be healthy!
Such a beautiful story. Jeff used love to heal Freedom and Freedom in return used love to heal him. Love is universal, even without a single word, it radiates and all beings can feel it.
relationships can be in sooooooooooo many different ways and this one is definitely a good one, this story is very inspirational to me and many more people. thank you Rinpoche for sharing this very amazing story.
看这篇文章时，我的脑海里中出现动物带给我们欢乐，激发我们的灵感的图片，同时它们和我们一样渴求快乐，承受痛苦和畏惧死亡。
我想我们只是关心人与人之间的关系，我们就不会真正变得文明起来，真正重要的是人与所有生命的关系。 为什么？丰子恺曾劝告小孩子不要肆意用脚去踩蚂蚁，不要肆意用火或水去残害蚂蚁，他认为自己那样做不仅仅出于怜悯之心，更是怕小孩子那一点点残忍之心以后扩展开来，以致驾着飞机装着炸弹去轰炸无辜的平民。
请爱护动物就是爱你自己!
This post about the injured eagle is so inspiring. We, as human beings should love all living beings.
Jeff was so kind and patiently taking care of the injured bird, Freedom until finally she was able to stand up and her wings’s injury has recovered.
When people keep pets and they get sick, they will usually just dump their pets , but this post about Jeff is totally different. He took the eagle, Freedom to the hospital to treat her. If not for Jeff freedom would have not survived.
Because of his kindness, Freedom in return also show her care to Jeff when he has cancer. Through his accumulated merit, Jeff was finally cured.
Wish that they will continue to be best friend for ever.
Thank you for sharing this post, Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for this moving post!
I could never have appreciated animals for their beauty and love without Rinpoche’s guidance! Reading and watching Freedom channeling her energies to heal others is really amazing. This is living proof that the entire ecosystem is really interdependent on each other and the only way to go is to respect each other by being vegetarian and going all the way to protect them and contributing to their lives.
spread this beautiful stories around folks!
What a touching story of how a bird saved a man’s life. Especially wonderful about this story is the initial vulnerability of Freedom who as an eagle is normally the predator but needed Jeff’s help…and after she got it, returned his kindness by saving his life. When even a bird of prey that is born and bred, and has evolved just to kill is capable of overcoming her killer instinct, why do we find it so hard to give up killing and eating meat for just one day?
This shows all sentient beings have feelings! Thanks for sharing as it teaches us to be compassionate to all beings!
Thank you for this post, Rinpoche.
We keep reading or hearing of animals that come into people’s lives — it is as if they were sent to us with a secret mission. Such friends need no voices to tell us of their love and gratitude — their show it unconditionally.
A warm and touching story of care, kindness, giving, patience, love a person can offer to even an animal of the wild that helped ‘tame’ it. I guess the bond between them gave Jeff the strength to battle his illness.
Thank you rinpoche for a wonderful story. This kind of stories always touches the human heart and show us whether animal or human beings, we are all beings with a spirit. What we make of it s up to us. Thank you for the inspiration.
语言是沟通的一种方式，绝大部分的沟通来自于语言以外的交流。不同的个体，能以“心”交流，难能可贵。很难在今天的生活看到人们或是不同的生物真诚的相处，绝大部分的人需做最后的决定时，都以自己的私人利益着想。希望能有更多这类的例子流传。
What a beautiful story of a phenomenal relationship between a bird and a man. It is always heart warming to read stories like this. Animals are like us humans too. They are able to feel pain, to love just like us humans therefore we should treat all sentient beings with love and compassion..
Jeff and Freedom, thank you for showing us that animals and humans could form a beautiful relationship.
Thank you for sharing, Rinpoche!
Thank you for sharing this amazing story , to be honest the first thing that came to mind is that i would like to experience being “eagle hugged” by none other than an American Bald Eagle ! Amazing creature , regal and powerful. In this case , a very gentle and grateful eagle , able to give love in return.
We should do the same like Jeff Guidry treated Freedom, Animals need love and care from us. That’s touching.
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing the story to us.
Best Regards : Eric kksiow
An amazing story indeed… it goes to show how much we are so interconnected and really nothing is ever coincidental. Before I joined the Dharma, I use to read a lot of “new age” stories and wisdom, I used to believe that someone crosses path with us for a reason and when that person or being is done his/her part with you, lessons to learn along the process, then that is when we part. I guess now with Dharma I can see how it applies to karma.
Jeff definitely have a strong karmic connection with Freedom and they were meant to be, to find each other and to do something good. Eagels are mystical animals and they are well known for their spiritual being in American natives. So I am not surprised with Freedom’s ability and strong sixth sense that without Jeff having to say anything, she knows and sense what is going on. Actually all animals do. Hence, we should not view animals as lower then us and look at them as just meals… in Dharma, they could far well be our previous live’s mother. So why would we wanna harm and hurt our mothers? Just by saying we are “Buddhist” is not good enough, we need to at least be able to do the basics… not harming other. And by not harming all sentient beings means including animals!
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this incredibly touching story with us. I was really moved.
Jeff is someone who is compassionate and understands the value of life. I will strive to be more like him and continue to support societies that help animals.
Dear Rinpoche,
Wow!! What an amazing story on the relationship of an injured Eagle and its owner.
It is no surprise how even though birds will be birds, dogs will be dogs and animals will be animals in this life it is amazing how they may not look as smart as us, they are smaller than us and they don’t really act like human beings but yet there are so many stories on the companionship of very loyal and faithful dogs like Hachiko and so many others…..
Even though I have never heard/read about any companionship between a human and a bird or to be more precise an Eagle I am very taken aback at how when Freedom was sick Jeff patiently took care for her and when Jeff was sick with cancer Freedom fought Jeff’s cancer in his dreams.
It’s wonderful to know the fact that all animals in this world are not here to harm us, it is just that because we, Humans have scared them so in turn they to have to be protective of themselves.
Amazing to know that if we don’t harm any animals, sooner or later animals will no longer be afraid of humans and the world would be so harmonies to see people staying with all kinds of animals in their homes both not afraid of each other.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with me this very touching story of Jeff and Freedom.
Love
Jutika
This is so touching! I’m very surprised because eagles are known to be very aggressive, when they want something, they will find the way to get it no matter how hard it is.
I really love the part where Freedom would put her wings around Jeff, it’s just like hugging him. I’m so glad that Freedom survived. Right now, she has a friend who loves her. Good for her.
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
Love, beatrix.
I supposed there are exceptions to anything.. Eagles are usually aggressive because they need to survive, but Freedom the eagle has been showered with love, and I supposed her kindness seed opened and she is not like the “normal” eagles anymore 🙂
There are many stories about how aggressive animals like tigers, lions, etc showed their kindness to human.
It is time for the human to show kindness to the animals too. The easiest way to show kindness is not to torture them and have them as food in our plate..
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this blog post. The story is an inspirational and moving story to all animal lovers. Many people would let their animals go elsewhere when the owner is sick, this man still kept his ‘friend’ and shows that he is willing to keep his friend through thick and thin. This man makes me regain my hope in humanity.