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Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Sangha doing a blessing for all the sentient beings in the water, Italy, June 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.
As Lama Zopa Rinpoche travels throughout the world, he always takes time to emphasize the activities we can do to benefit animals, which is one of Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for FPMT. In an excerpt from “Liberating Animals from the Dangers of Death,” Rinpoche offers the motivation we should hold as we work to help animals:
First reflect that all these creatures have been human beings, just like you. But because they did not practice Dharma and subdue their minds, they have been reborn as animals. Their present suffering bodies are the result of their unsubdued minds. We would not want their body for even a second. We get upset when we see some small sign of aging in our body, such as one more wrinkle on our face. So how could we stand to have the body of one of these animals? There is no way we could stand it.
It is vital that we feel some connection with the animals. We should not look at them and think that their bodies have nothing to do with us. We should not think that the bodies of these animals are permanent or truly existent and have no relationship with their mind. And, most important, we should not think that our own minds could not create such bodies.
Reflect on the fact that every one of these animals has been your own mother. When they were human beings, they were extremely kind in giving you your body and in saving you from danger hundreds of times each day. Later, they bore many hardships to educate you in the ways of the world; they taught you how to speak, how to walk, and how to behave. They also created much negative karma to ensure your happiness.
Not only have they been kind to you numberless times as a human mother, but they have also been kind to you numberless times as an animal mother. As a mother dog they gave you milk and food. As a mother bird they fed you with many worms every day. Each time they have been your mother they have taken care of you selflessly, sacrificing their comfort – and even their lives – numberless times to protect you and bring you happiness. As animals, they have guarded and protected you numberless times from the attacks of other animals. They have been unbelievably kind like this many times.
Not only has each of these animals been your mother, they have been your father, brother, and sister numberless times. We are all the same; we are all one family – it’s just that we have different bodies at the moment. We should feel as close to these animals as we do to our present family. We should hold them in our hearts.
Think, “I must free all the hell beings from all their suffering and its causes and lead them to enlightenment. I must free all the hungry ghosts from all their suffering and its causes and lead them to enlightenment. I must free all the animal beings from all their suffering and its causes and lead them to enlightenment.” …
You can read Rinpoche’s complete instructions for developing the bodhichitta mind to do animal liberation in the short version of “Liberating Animals from the Dangers of Death.” This practice is also available in an expanded form in the book Liberating Animals. Both the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Bodhichitta Fund and the Animal Liberation Fund support animal liberation activities around the world.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.