Tag: Avatamsaka Vihara

Me & Happy: The Spectrum of Life

In memory of Happy.
May 1995 to June 24, 2010 (10:53 PM)

 

He was 15 years-old which in human years is 105 years-old.  He was raised in Mommy’s family since he was a puppy and then Mommy and Daddy adopted him when he was about 6 years old.  Ever since then he has been considered Mommy and Daddy’s first “child.”

Happy and I were more similar than you think:

1.  Movements.  Happy had bad hind leg arthritis and was on medication (Rimadyl and Tramadol).  And of course, I haven’t learned how to walk yet, so neither one of us can walk very well.  Mommy and Daddy have their hands full trying to help ambulate Happy.  Despite his arthritis, he was adamant about going up and down the stairs to be with us. 

2. Incontinence.  Yes, Happy was just like me now.  He cannot control his stool or urine all the time and had accidents all over the house.  The only difference is that I have diapers!

3.  Irritability with hunger.  Happy had always loved food, but the older he gets, the more aggressive he is when he is hungry.  During his last few months of life, he was no longer fearful of going through the trash.  Nor was he fearful of showing his teeth and growling at Mommy & Daddy.  Since I don’t have teeth yet, I can’t really growl with intimidation, but do cry and I can try my heart out when I am hungry.

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Rest in peace, Happy. Thanks for being the “gentle giant” you are to me during my first year of life.

Addendum on 7/24/2010:

Happy has had more exposure than most animals (and probably some humans) to Buddhism.  Mommy hopes that Happy is able to reincarnate into the human realm so that at least he can cultivate. 

– When Happy was younger, he used to stay with A-ma while she was praying or chanting.  After A-ma went to City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, he began staying with Mommy while she was praying or chanting.

– When Happy was about 9 or 10 years old, Uncle Wade brought him to the temple to be “baptized” as a Buddhist disciple.  Uncle Wade brought Happy because Mommy and Daddy were in Punta Cana at that time and couldn’t bring him themselves.

– Happy ate mostly vegetables, although his dog food did contain meat products.

– Prior to Happy’s death, Mommy placed a plaque at Avatamsaka Vihara for his creditors so he wouldn’t have to suffer as much during his final moments.

– After Happy’s death, Mommy placed another plaque at Avatamsaka Vihara so that his spirit will have somewhere to go for the first 49 days after death.

–  Mommy chanted Amitabha Buddha’s name for 8 hours for Happy after he died.  Unfortunately, his body was still hard after the chanting.  However, his chest was still warm.  Hopefully, this means he’ll reincarnate into the human realm.

– Mommy is in th process of chanting Earth Store Sutra 7 times during the 49 days after his death.

– Ultimately, Happy has to endure the karma he caused in previous lives, but at least in this life, Mommy did her best to give him the best chances of reincarnating back as a human.  Rest in peace, Happy.

Early Education in Buddhism

Ever since I was 2 months old, Mommy has brought me to Avatamsaka Vihara, the Buddhist temple Mommy attends in Potomac, Maryland.  (www.drba.org)  It is a branch of Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, where A-ma (Mommy’s mommy) has devoted her life.  Taking me to the temple was something Mommy told herself she would do for me since I was conceived because Buddhism is very important to Mommy.  Mommy became a Buddhist starting in medical school and believes it has made her a better person, but she wishes she had known Buddhism sooner.  This is why she wants me to have early exposure so that I could be a better person from birth.

I don’t really know what I am supposed to do at the temple at such an early age, but all I know is that as soon as I get up on Sunday mornings, Mommy wisks me off to the temple.  Mommy says she wants me to get used to going to the temple every Sunday and she wants me to hear the chants.   In reality, I had been going since I have inside Mommy’s uterus, so I was already pretty used to all the sounds of the chants.  Still, I usually fall asleep on the way to the temple and sleep for another hour at the temple while listening to all the chanting.  Mommy gets to chant for that hour, but it’s usually short-lived because I will start wiggling in my car seat, forcing Mommy to have to attend to me before I start crying.  Lunch time is particularly hard on Mommy since I am usually very irritable by then.  She has to put me in the Baby Bjorn while she gets her lunch and then eat while keeping me in the Baby Bjorn.  There are usually very nice people at the temple who offer to carry me during lunch so that Mommy can eat more efficiently, but Mommy has figured out how to not rely on others in case she’s not so lucky every week.  Once a month, I also get a bonus and get to see YiMa there when she volunteers. 

Besides going to the temple every Sunday, Mommy also turns on the recording of “The Great Compassion Mantra” in my crib so that I can listen to it subconsciously while I sleep every night.  Hopefully I will be able to recite it at an early age without many obstacles.

“What does Daddy do every Sunday morning then?” you ask.  Well, since Daddy isn’t Buddhist (at least not yet) and doesn’t go with us to the temple, he gets 5 extra hours of uninterrupted time to himself.  Lucky Daddy?  Some might say so, but Mommy still hopes I’d prefer to go the temple with her.