Buddhist Practice Everyday

The guy who has used our temple ground as his toilet was finally caught.  It took us two days to catch him but I have picked up his huge poops for at least 7 days!!!  The reason why our temple gate was closed lately was because we tried to catch the guy. 

At first, I had no idea why so many poops were here on the ground.  Every morning and evening, I saw big poops which were so stink.   Then on Wednesday, unbelievably I saw the guy who was about to poop just in front of me! 

I almost forgot I was a priest.   “Hey you!” I didn’t shout it, but I said in my heart loudly.   I’m sorry I had to admit I became angry.   At the same time, I was glad to see his face.  It was not a man but a dog!  My anger went to a dog who left another brand-new poop.

But of course, a dog was innocent.  I was actually upset more to the unknown owner of the dog who were not with the dog.   Slowly I walked to the dog, but he scared my approaching.  Maybe he knew I was upset.  He ran away to the next door and I chased him ….then I lost sight of him.

I went back to the temple and closed the gate….so that a dog cannot get in anymore.  No more poops on the ground!  However just in one hour or less, he came back to the temple again and rested under the Plumeria tree.  Why did he come back?  I didn’t realized it but it looked like he had lived here!    Soon I noticed there was a big puka or hole on the fence and so I filled it with some palm leaves on the fence.  Then I texted our President uncle Kuni to ask contacting human society to get it.  

My original intention to close the gate was to prevent the guy to come in but now quite opposite.   I hoped gates would prevent him to run away from here….I waited human society to come immediately to catch him but they didn't come at all.   I didn’t want to waste time just for waiting so I started gardening in order to multiple plants such as water lilies and ground orchids….Anyway, they finally came in the evening to set a trap to catch a dog. 

Although I was able to work gardening while waiting human society but my mind was so occupied with a dog if he might escape by the time they arrive here.

Then I realized this was not good.   I should be always a master of myself but after seeing a dog, my master of mind is not myself but a dog.   I have been so attached to the dog!  I didn’t like picking up dog’s poop but I didn’t like more such an attachment.   I actually needed to forget it and let it go….

Picking up a poop takes only a few second.  It’s just stink maybe for just seconds, not more than 10 seconds.   But preoccupied thoughts or attachment could take much more time.  I can be easily a slave of the attachment.   I took a very easy solution to let it go by just going to the ocean….

Naturally I became calm and peaceful.  I didn’t upset even though I found poop on the next morning.  I didn’t mind it because my attachment of the stink poop was now gone.  A trap set by human society didn’t work yesterday but worked today.  I feel more sorry for the dog who may be abandoned by the owner.

May all living beings be always happy and kind....

I realized an importance of Buddhist practice of loving-kindness each moment and each day.   Buddhist practice is never ending.  Maybe that's why life cannot be bored....but I renewed my vow to practice Buddhist practice of Mettā bhāvanā or Meditation of loving kindness every day every moment...especially today is a memorable day of "Pearl Harbor."   I'd like to recite Metta Sutra...

Mettā bhāvanā or Meditation of loving kindness

Let myself be always happy and kind.

Let myself be free from disease and mental worries.

Let myself be always successful in righteous and reasonable endeavors.

Let the wisdom of light shine upon myself.

Let myself be always be always happy and kind. (3 times.)

Let my intimates be always happy and kind.

Let my intimates be free from disease and mental worries.

Let my intimates be always successful in righteous and reasonable endeavors.

Let the wisdom of light shine upon my intimates.

Let my intimates be always happy and kind. ( 3 times)

Let all living beings be always happy and kind.

Let all living beings be from disease and mental worries.

Let all living beings be always successful in righteous and reasonbale endeavors.

Let the wisdom of light shine upon all living beings.

Let all living beings be always happy and kind. (3 times.)

Let all living beings irritable to me be always happy and kind.

Let all living beings irritable to me be free from disease and mental worries.

Let all living beings irritable to me be always successful in righteous and reasonable endeavors.

let the wisdom of light shine upon all living beings irritable to me.

Let all living beings irritable to me be always happy and kind. (3 times.)

Let all living beings not happy with me be always happy and kind.

Let all living beings not happy with me be free from disease and mental worries.

Let all living beings not happy with me be always successful in righteous and reasonable endeavors.

Let the wisdom of light shine upon all living beings not happy with me.

Let all living beings not happy with me be always happy and kind. (3 times.)

Let all living beings be always happy and kind.

Let all living beings be always happy and kind.

Let all living beings be always happy and kind.