Small Bits of Kindness
Illustrates the Great Dharma

By Hai Ren; Translated by Mike Lee

Part 1

There is a family that owned a black dog as pet. Her entire body was covered with dark hair that shined, while long black tresses hung over her eyes. She looked fluffy and cute. One day, this dog gave birth to five black puppies, and every one of them was also dark and shiny, chubby and soft. These little ones were very adorable. However, for reasons unknown, the mother dog seemed to be very unhappy with the five puppies, perhaps because their father has left and never been around. She showed no motherly love at all. Not only did she drive her puppies out of the doghouse, she did not suckle these little ones either. She even used the chain leash around her neck to whip and trip these puppies. The little dogs were hungry and cold, and so they wailed with sadness.

The neighbors of this family had a light brown cat. When she observed this situation, she walked over to the doghouse, and carried the puppies one by one to her own cattery. She didn't care that the mother dog was right there, and the mother dog was not concerned either as she watched the cat took her children away. After bringing home the puppies, the cat laid down so that they could gather around her to be suckled. At the same time, the cat used her tongue to clean these little ones. This heartwarming and peaceful scene was quite unforgettable for those who saw it. A row of black puppies gathered close to the bosom of this cat to feed on her milk. This scene was so contrary to the usual image that we are familiar with! This cat put aside her own safety and did not worry if she had enough milk to feed these five young dogs. No matter they were cat or dog, despite the sharp contrast of their dark color against her light brown fur, her only thought was to give warmth and nourishment to these suffering little ones. What else could her deed be but the exercise of the bodhisattva way? This mother cat held no bias and was totally free of ego. What she has done is what we as Buddhists strive to learn and practice every moment; it is also the most difficult thing for us Buddhists to accomplish. Yet it is the requirement for achieving Buddha hood. Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva has taken trillions and trillions of forms in helping and rescuing living beings, and here is a very obvious instance.

The story above is not made-up fiction. It is something inspiring that really happened somewhere in the United States. Last week, it was broadcast in a program called "Miracle Pets". Worthy of note is that the cat already has two kittens, which she still nurses. Later, the cat owner was afraid that the cat would not have enough milk and requested the dog owner to force the mother dog to lie down and properly feed her own puppies. For this cat to offer her kindness and form a benevolent bond, without doubt as the puppies grow up, they would be affected. On one hand, they might be surprised their mother was a "strange being" of another species, but also they would carry profound goodwill toward cats. Maybe one day they would foster a group of kittens themselves. Likewise, the cat's children would grow up to have strong connection with dogs. Perhaps one day, we would see on the streets cats and dogs strolling alongside each other in harmony; we should realize that they are fellow cultivating Buddhists who have rid themselves of bias.

Part 2

Also shown on the Miracle Pets program, interestingly, was another true story about yet another black dog. This black dog is the exact opposite of the previous one, for she was full of motherly love. The story happened in a farm. When the farmer first brought the dog home, wherever she went, all the chicken, large and small alike, ran away in fear. One day, the farmer saw the dog carrying an egg in her mouth, and his immediate reaction was: oh no, that egg is doomed. Much to his surprise, the fragile egg was not harmed at all by her sharp fangs. The dog carefully put the egg down between her two front paws, as if she was trying to hatch the egg. Perhaps she couldn't bear to let the chick inside that abandoned egg get cold. Not long after, the black dog was accepted by the chickens and was able to meander freely among them, and the chickens no longer feared the dog like before. This scene of harmonious coexistence gave onlookers a warm feeling of serenity.

On day, the dog suddenly ran to a pasture in the distance, where there was an injured cat moaning in pain. The black dog stood in front of the cat and moved her head back and forth while making low wailing noises. It is if she was trying to comfort the cat. At the same time, the cat used its front paw to tap on the dog, as if it was trying to express its suffering. In a moment, this smart and compassionate black dog ran for her master and got him to take the cat home to be tended. In another instance, the master had a sick rabbit in his arms, and this dog rushed over and sniffed the rabbit with concern. She lingered close by, refusing to go away.

The most touching thing came in the end. One of the farmer's cows gave birth to a calf, but this mother cow simply refused to nurse her newborn and totally ignored the calf. (Perhaps the father bull had abandoned this family also.) The farmer did not know what to do, while the hungry calf was becoming too hungry to stand. At that time, the dog instinctively walked to the calf and suckled this baby cow. Being hungry, the calf did not care whether the milk came from a dog or a cow, nor did she seem to bother with who her mother was, she simply opened her mouth and anxiously fed on the milk. Even though the calf was virtually the same size as herself, the dog continued to nurse the newborn cow in days to come, and the calf gradually grew strong and big. Of course, eventually the calf began feeding on hay, and the dog stopped her nursing. Would you believe that this calf has grown into an adult cow already? Today, she weighs thousands of pounds and has given birth to more calves. Whenever she sees the black dog, this enormous animal still seemed to behave sentimentally, as her mouth seems to mumble. Perhaps she is telling her own children that the black dog was the foster mom who saved her life!

This black dog was totally free of bias and ego. As long as there is a need, she forgets about herself and took care of others first, whether it was chicken, cat, rabbit, or cow. With the benevolent bonds she built with others through her kindness, she is indeed a great compassionate canine bodhisattva.