This cat in Montana loved to hang out on the bird table, with the statue of Kanzeon. Bodhisattva of Great Compassion.Uma, who had a mention a few days ago, died this afternoon. Now we just have Smudge the cat. He was off down the lane in the dark this evening, probably hunting.
The rabbit, a young one, stood motionless in the middle of the lane as I walked to meditation early this morning. Returning a couple of hours later it was on its side, gasping for breath. One of the monks had made a fence of gardening tools, signalling us to take care. Still later in the morning it was gone. Dead, at last, and now buried.
Myxomatosis is here, again. The virus gets into the rabbits gut and it’s only a matter or time, a long slow time, before the infected creature is dead. I remember when, in the early 1950’s, this disease struck the rabbits in our part of Sussex. We were near the Kent boarder where it was first discovered. Spread by accident or design, nobody is sure. This was my first encounter with slow death. I’d seen road kill often enough. Those gasping animals in beside the road left a deep impression on me.
Most of us must have passed the rabbit on our way too and fro to the main buildings this morning. In such circumstances we routinely make gassho and say the three Refuges of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha for the creatures benefit. It’ll be the most blessed rabbit in the valley! As with the foot and mouth outbreak back in 2001 we can’t do funerals for each animal, however we can offer something for the ones we see and keep the big picture in mind as well.
Each time I passed the scene there were thoughts of frustration; thoughts of helplessness in the face of its inevitable demise, there were the feelings of uncomfortableness looking at the raw reality of it all. And also there was the background wanting to DO something. But there isn’t anything that can be done, the virus keeps on emerging. One could think, well it keeps the rabbit population down, which is true.
So, things/circumstances hardly ever come up smelling like roses, from every angle.
Derwentwater by Keswick in the Lake District, with ducks.
In other words, if you stand up you are likely to fall in the water!
My first sight of the high fells, as we traveled by coach from Windermere to our Youth Hostel in Grasmere, remain with me now. It was love at first sight. Nothing in this world has ever matched the lakeland fells. I remain forever loyal.
Interestingly I cannot remember ever going out in one of the rowing boats pictured here. I understand they cost, at one time, five shillings for a day!
Yesterday evening I was all set to write about focusing on the important thing. That is how to avoid getting caught up in the comings and goings of the coming and going of daily life. When, I discovered my newly washed laundry looking like it had taken a tour in the septic system. Then, having tinkered with my computer earlier in the day, discovered I was not able to log in to this Blog. Suddenly the comings and goings were right on my doorstep, and not going away!
Anyway, letting it be seems to work, as well as sleeping on it. After thoughts before bed about making an effort to back up ‘Mountains’, an email from Iain in Japan in the morning confirmed he’d just done that. Unasked.
Now, after a day out in the English Lake District I’ve managed to write this, although not on my computer. After a day taking photographs I’m quite proud of, I have mislaid my camera. I’ll sleep on that…
Just a quick note today to mention that Uma, one of our Abbey cats, is poorly at the moment.
Please offer her some positive thoughts during the day if you have the opportunity
in gassho