Guest Contributor – Tara
Article submitted by Tara
[Winning article for “A Chance To Bring Home Medicine Buddha — For Free!!” – https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/kechara-13-depts/a-chance-to-bring-home-medicine-buddha-%E2%80%93-for-free.html]
I must admit I feel a bit awkward writing this article. I am normally not one to boast about the things I do in my private life. For any other type of contest, I would most likely be nominating someone else and gushing on and on about how they should win a placement due to their wonderful nature and abilities. However, for this contest I am actually writing about myself (and my anonymous friend who doesn’t know I am including him!), so you will have to forgive the lack of humility in this letter.
It is not so much that I think I have performed such virtuous acts that I deserve to win this wonderful statue of Menlha. I have seen more love and dedication in others when it comes to caring for animals, than the simple things I do. A great example would be the video just posted on Tsem Rinpoche’s blog about Mr. Pak Mie and his extraordinarily compassionate work with dogs and cats. He is a true hero and if I cannot be considered for the statue I at least hope one would be sent to him so he and his animals may continually be blessed and his loving work can be carried on for generations to come. If I knew his contact information, I would have included it here for you! But please, do try to send him one if you can find his information and think it would be something he would openly receive.
Pak Mie and his friends.
As I have stated above, what I do for animals pales in comparison, but I have always had a place in my heart for the care and protection of animals. First of all, I try very hard to live a vegan lifestyle. I am not perfect and sometimes I do regretfully eat some animal products from time-to-time, but otherwise I try very hard to contribute to a humane way of living through my diet. I am very thankful as well that Tsem Rinpoche is a huge advocate of vegetarianism, and his compassion and education for this topic makes my heart sing. I feel that we are lucky to have him to lead by example and show us that all life is important. I am thankful for him and his teachings.
Aside from trying to live a vegan lifestyle, I try my best in my own little way to protect the animals– wild as well as domesticated– that I come in contact with on a day-to-day basis. I live with my friend in an old house on 2.1 acres of land with a huge creek in back in southern New Jersey, USA. Sadly, like most places in the United States, the land is continually bought up by builders and huge mansions are built over once precious farmland and forest areas, thus driving the animals out of their homes.
This thought upsets me greatly because I feel it is not our right to continually push these poor, defenseless animals out of their homes just so we can live in a huge house to show off to our friends. And once these homes are built and the deer start jumping out onto the road and accidents ensue, people blame the deer and other animals they kill! How is this logical?
That is why I took it upon myself to try to give the deer and other animals, such as the groundhogs, skunks, birds, squirrels, bunnies, frogs, mice– you name it– a place to call their own. A mini sanctuary, if you will. We have achieved this by setting up two feeding stations. Every week we go and purchase corn, black sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, thistle, sweet feed, and when the season is right we purchase apples in bulk, and plant clover for the animals. We even have a vegetable garden in the summer that we share with the animals, and make sure that any of the left over fruits and vegetables we do not compost is left out for them to eat. Since there is nice body of water to the side and back of us, it’s the perfect area for the animals to call their home and feel safe (at least when they’re not traveling around, as do the deer). Mind you, we are not trying to domesticate the animals in any sense. We believe that to be dangerous for the animals, so we feed them quietly without them knowing really how the food got there to begin with. We want them to understand there is a food source on our land as well as a sense of safety, but not be dependent upon us and still remain wild and on guard for their own protection.
Some of the many sweet deer whom come to feed around the property.
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One of our groundhogs checking out the woodpile near the barn. |
A froggie I rescued at work one day. |
I didn’t realize just how much the animals felt safe here until a few weeks ago. Sadly, a deer that I had suspected that was sick died on the property. My friend found him by the barn near one of the feeding stations. There wasn’t any sign of harm on the deer’s body, so we believe he was just a sickly deer. My heart broke when I heard the news, because I would see this deer alone at odd hours during the day by himself, looking frail. I felt bad I could not help him, and wished there was something else I could have done to make him healthier. However, my friend and I were honored he died on our property, and were happy that he was finally at peace and no longer suffering. For some reason I just couldn’t let his body be eaten by the other animals in the area– as ironic as that sounds– seeing how the worms and maggots would feed on him eventually anyway. But we ended up burying him; we wanted to give him a more (in our minds) loving send off, and let his body rest in the place he felt the safest. I kept a
locket of his hair from his tail and keep it next to my small buddha statue and incense. I prayed that he be born to a better life, if not going straight to a state of nirvana. (In my mind, all animals are pure and perfect, and I cannot see how they wouldn’t reach nirvana right away. But that’s just my personal feeling on things, regardless of what the dharma teaches.)
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The deer during better times. I named her Daisy until I realized it was a male, then he became Duke instead. |
We are pretty sure it was the same deer, even though the pictures look totally different. Considering we haven’t seen him since, we are quite positive it was Duke. 🙁 |
So, yes, the deer are very important for us to protect here (and thus it helps to protect people driving on the road as well by giving the deer a safe haven), and even the smaller animals as well. As I have stated before, we live in a very old house, so it tends to be a refuge for mice. We love our little friends and our two dogs are always aware of their presence. Do not get me wrong– we are not overrun with mice, but from time-to-time we do have them staying when it is very cold out in the winter. Normally in the spring and autumn we catch the mice in humane traps and set them free a few miles away with food and nesting material in the forest, but in the winter months we let them stay and sometimes even leave food out for them when we know it is safer to stay in our house than it is to possibly stay in someone else’s house with poison or kill traps. Luckily most of the mice seemed to have taken refuge in the barn, where one of our feeding stations is located.
Look closely in the center and you will see one of our many mousey friends. 🙂
As I have mentioned above, we have two dogs. My one dog is a Yorkshire Terrier and I love her to pieces. I always say, “I couldn’t love you anymore, Moxie, if I had given birth to you myself!” Our other “daughter” is a fairly new edition to our home. Last summer we rescued a Greyound. Her name is Ellie Mae and she has had it rough. We are not sure if she had been abused or is just naturally skittish or it is a combination of both, but she has gone from being a very scared, sickly dog to a dog who now trusts people and is thriving. If we had the time and money we would just fill this house with dogs. My dream has always been to have a no kill shelter. Maybe or maybe not that will happen in this lifetime for me, who knows? But until then I will focus on my two current loves who bring us so much joy.
The loves of my life; my beautiful daughters.
I have always grown up with dogs, but if I wasn’t allergic to cats I would probably house them as well (although I would fear for the birds outside…!). But we are always up for helping out cats when the moment arises. Growing up I used to carry around cans of cat food in my purse in case I would find strays. It would happen more often than not!
However the last time we helped out a cat was a rather sad situation. My friend (who is a landlord) had one of his tenants leave a pregnant cat in his basement after they moved out (they claimed it was not their cat). Everyone’s first reaction was “Call animal control!” or “Take it to the pound!” but we could not do that, considering it would lead to an almost certain death. Even though the cat was not our responsibility, we wanted it to be. So we ended up taking a very long journey with the cat which included helping it have its kittens, getting the mommy spayed, getting all the kittens and mommy their shots, then placing the kittens and the mommy in homes. I even named the mommy “Dharma” while we temporarily cared for it; I figured it was a fitting name.
I literally could go on and on for pages about the small things my friend and I do for the animals we encounter, but I will stop here. The only thing else I can say is that my friend is so good with animals and they love him, and I feel a special connection to animals as well. We try hard to educate others who are willing to listen and promote humane ways of living by our actions. We feel that every sentient being– no matter how small– deserves a chance at life. Even though it has taken me many years to overcome my phobia of certain bugs, even when they are in the house (and trust me there are a lot, especially when you live in an old house with lots of trees and shrubbery around!), we try to respect their life and take them outside or just leave them alone. We want this house to be a safe place for all sentient beings, not just the “cute” furry ones.
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Ladybugs love visiting us. |
Cool little fella, eh? |
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A nice instagram-ed picture of one of our many Cardinal friends. Isn’t he handsome? |
Even bats like to hide out on the 3rd floor. |
In conclusion, I know that there are probably other individuals out there who deserve the Menlha statue more than I do. I have seen so many examples of selfless, beautiful work with animals over the years by other individuals, and they are the ones who have inspired me to perform small acts of kindness to the animals I encounter on a day-to-day basis. However, when I read the following description for this contest, I knew that it would truly be a blessing to have this statue on our property, watching over our beloved friends:
“Menlha’s energy is especially wonderful for animals, bestowing them with good health and powerful, positive imprints for their future lives…. This statue will bless all other creatures, big and small, which abide within the area.”
Therefore, even though I may not deserve the statute as much as the next person, I believe the many sentient beings that live on and around our property do deserve that great blessing. I am writing this article in honor of them, in order to win it for them, so that they may continue to be protected and blessed in this life and future lives to come.
Thank you for taking the time to read this as well as holding this generous contest.
With Metta ~
~ Tara
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If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Dear Tara
Thank you for an interesting post.
You home is like a mini zoo, housing visitors like insects and animals. They can sense your love for them.
I hope more sponsors can come to you in your quest to help out these beings.
Dear Tara,
I really enjoy reading your post very much.to me
that is the result that practiced Dharma in our daily life.
Dear Tara,
To me it is not awkward for you to write and boast once in a while… besides what is the point of having this competition when people don’t want to boast/write about themselves?
So think about it.. not to awkward right?
Getting back to the reason why you are writing this post about why you should deserve a Medicine Buddha Statue.
I am extremely awed by the way you treat any animals that come to your house as well as your 2 acre land.
I agree with you that the Honorable Pak Mie should indeed get one of our Medicine Buddha Statues to be place in his shelter so that his 600 dogs as well as his 100 cats can always be blessed as well for their good health and even if they were to pass away while in pain or sickness Medicine Buddha can guide them to take rebirth as a human so that they too can learn and enjoy practicing Dharma too!
It is amazing how you shelter so many mice, bats, dogs, cats small insects as well as other animals.
To me there is totally know reason why you should not win the Medicine Buddha Statue as there are not many people like you who would do such a thing to innocent animals.
Congratulations on winning the Medicine Buddha Statue!!!!
Keep up the good work and may Medicine Buddha bless you and all the pets, animals you now have as well as all the future animals to come.
P.S Heard you have Instagram right? Do go and follow H.E Tsem Rinpoche’s Fanpage Account @tsemrinpoche http://statigr.am/search/tsemrinpoche ….. inform us when you are done!
Love
Jutika
Thank you Tara sharing your touching story here . You are so good and love animals , setting up a place for them. May all the animals within your house area be bless and protect by Menlha .
Thank you, Tara, for writing in with a wish to invite a Medicine Buddha to your home to bless all the beings roaming around your home. Your house is like a mini zoo; a haven safe and welcoming for the wildlife.
Congratulations on winning the Medicine Buddha statue. May Menhla blesses you and your family including all those animals in your home.
Dear Tara, you post is extremely enjoyable. It is great to know that you transformed your house into a miniature animal sanctuary. There is so much humility and compassion at play here. Normally, people would not want to care for other animals due to their superiority complex but you are different and that’s what makes you beautiful! I wish for you to win the Medicine Buddha statue as your love for animals is so sincere!
Love,
Sean
https://www.facebook.com/AnimalBefriendersCoalition
Dear Tara,
Beautiful write up. Thank you for telling us your story and sharing all these wonderful pictures.
Congratulations on winning the Menlha statue. May Menlha bless all these wonderful beings that roam around your house.
If we start to care about others sentient beings like animals and take care of them like taking care on our own family members and friends.Then we will find that our mind become light,happy and peaceful.These are the result that we really practicing Dharma in our daily life.
If we start to take care all types of animals like our own family members.Then it showed that we are compassionate and we will see that our own mind will become peaceful,light and happy.That is the result that practiced Dharma in our daily life.
Thank you Tara for writing and wanting to win the Menlha statue for the animals you care for. You’re really deserving of Medicine Buddha’s blessing and protection. From your writing you are very concerned on how others treated the animals they encountered and you have taken the decision to do something about it to the best what you can do. What is very nice is making your land you’re living on animal friendly. Animals do not have sheltered to speak of unlike the humans. They are very much exposed to the elements especially in countries with four seasons. Although you’re giving food to the animals that happen to pass by to your property you make it a point that food is available but they do need to be independent to fence for themselves when they move to other areas.
Dear Tara, thank you for sharing your wonderful story. It’s really amazing to have people like you to care about the animals, I feel so happy for them. You are doing a great great job on helping those animals, may you have good health and long life so that you can benefit more animals. Thank You.
Dear Tara,
Thank you for submitting your beautiful story and letting us all know that there are kind hearted people out there who really is doing all they can to help the animals around them. It is not often we hear people helping wild animals and this is the first time I am reading about this!
ANimals have a sixth sense so I am sure they know that your property is a place they can find some solace and refuge in, hence they come. It is amazing to see your love and care for them and I am sure you and your friend do what you can to help them. Thank you for having a compassionate heart 🙂 I am sure a Menlha sitting outside in your garden area will bless the birds, deers and all the beautiful wild friends who come to visit.
[…] 4. Tara – http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/guest-contributors/guest-contributor-tara.html […]
Read this beautiful story by Giel-Frédéric Foubert. He contributed to our contest of winning a Medicine Buddha statue. This young man will touch your heart. See here: http://blog.tsemtulku.com/?p=39751
Contest: http://blog.tsemtulku.com/?p=39695
Would you like to win? It’s not too late! TR
Dear Tara,
Thanks for sharing your lovely story and all the photos!! You really love animals and even reflect it in your almost vegan lifestyle. i am happy that a Menlha statue will be blessing all the wildlife in your mini sanctuary. Animals can sense where there is love and i am sure that they flock to your land because of the positive energy you give out. Menlha will add his enlightened energies and blessings to your kind generosity. Congratulations!
Dear Rinpoche, it is good to see that there are peoples that loves animals other than the people among ourselves. Tara I wish you all the best on getting more sponsors so that you can spend it on buying supplies and save more wild animals. Thank you for helping these animals.
Tara, I am so awed by your incredible story, your humility and your amazing efforts to help these animals in your area. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Your humility is especially astounding and I am so so glad that you did write in with your story and the beautiful pictures.
I have never heard of someone doing animal rescues for wildlife like this, in a personal capacity and your story is so inspiring! There are many people who do rescues of domestic animals, such as dogs and cats so it must have been real unchartered territory for you to go out to help this very, very large and varied range of animals. I think it’s wonderful that you even just provide them a safe place to go to – animals can definitely feel that compassion and love of others and know that it’s a good place for them to be in.
I am really happy that a Menlha will be coming over to you. His energies (especially blessed by Tsem Rinpoche) will definitely be of great benefit and immense blessings to all the animals who will come by him. And of course, great blessings for you and your friend too!
Much love and appreciation for all you are doing xxxx
Dear Tara,
I really enjoy reading your post very much. Your house is like a little zoo, housed by various types of animals and insects.
I really like your idea of setting up feeding places for the animals, I agree with what you have said, unless we take it upon ourselves to take care of them for the rest of their lives, we have to make them learned that they cannot depend on us for foods and everything.
I love places where there are four seasons so that we can enjoy the differences. All seasons have beauty of their own.
I wish that you can have your wish come true that you be awarded the Medicine Buddha statue, so that many more animals will be blessed in every trip that they come to your compound.