Catskill動物收容中心之旅

Rescued Animals Receive Buddhist Blessings

 

 

很高興在前幾個禮拜和法師、居士、及喇嘛們一同前往Catskill動物收容中心。那天天氣晴朗,CAS廣大舒暢的綠地,及各式各樣可愛的動物,希望大家不僅玩的愉快,您的慷慨捐款和為動物祈福儀式使得這趟旅途格外有意義。我很希望能繼續和ABC及各位前輩們交流,舉辦定期活動,減少不正確放生,而能達到真正愛護動物、護生的目的。

 

那天的參訪我寫了一篇文章,供各位參考:

 

September 22, 2011

Rescued Animals Receive Buddhist Blessings

Humane Society International

  • Chanting a blessing. Joan Wai

  • Taking the tour. Monlam Lama

  • Patting a new buddy. Monlam Lama

  • Checking out the goat pen. Joan Wai

  • Walking through the barn. Monlam Lama

  • The group enjoyed their visit. Monlam Lama

by Iris Ho

Humane Society International has been working with Buddhist communities in both the U.S. and Asia since 2009 to address our concerns about the Buddhist practice of “mercy release.” The release ritual, based on the Buddhist belief that freeing a captured animal creates good karma and fortune, causes the suffering of millions of animals every year, as well as serious environmental damage.

Offering an alternative

In September 2011, we arranged for a group of more than 40 Buddhist abbots, abbesses, and congregation members from Chinatown in New York City to visit the Catskill Animal Sanctuary in upstate New York. The purpose of the day-long tour was to demonstrate that supporting and working with animal sanctuaries or animal welfare groups—instead of participating in the harmful mercy release ritual—is truly the best and most compassionate way to help animals.

Help by signing our "No Mercy Release pledge" or donating to support our work.

Located two hours north of New York City in the Hudson Valley, the sanctuary provides a safe and loving haven for abused horses and other farm animals. More than 1,700 animals have been cared for there since it was founded in 2001. The sanctuary also serves as a means for raising awareness about the mistreatment of farm animals and how this impacts all of us.

Making new friends

Kathy Stevens, founder and director of the sanctuary, took the group on an enchanting tour. We were greeted by all sorts of adorable animals, including horses, pigs, chickens, goats, cows, ducks and geese who seemed equally thrilled to see us.

Several pot-bellied pigs congregated by the fence to get acquainted with their visitors. A turkey and a goat followed the group around like self-appointed chaperones. Kathy told us a moving story about how the horses were rescued from their previous abusive owners.

Blessings, offerings and thanks

The visitors performed Buddhist blessings for their new friends. The Chinese blessing was led by the president of American Buddhist Confederation, the Venerable Shi Rui Fa, while the Tibetan blessing was led by the Dorje Ling Buddhist Center from Brooklyn. Holding back tears, Kathy said to the visitors, “I don’t know what you are chanting. But I thank you. I thank you for your love for these animals.” It was a moment that required no translation.

In addition to the spiritual blessings to show compassion, the visitors also generously donated to the sanctuary to help buy enough hay to feed the animals for an entire winter.

This visit could not have happened without the enthusiastic support from the Ven. Shi Benkong of Grace Gratitude Buddhist Temple, the Ven. Shi Rui Fa of Buddhist Peaceful Enlightenment Temple, member temples of the American Buddhist Confederation, the Dorje Ling Buddhist Center, and Joan Wai of Youth Buddhism Communications.

A bond between these rescued animals, the Buddhist community and the sanctuary was formed that day. And HSI is glad to have played a role in this wonderful experience, thoroughly enjoyed by all. In the future, we plan to roll out a series of such visits to local wildlife rehabilitation centers and animal sanctuaries for more members of the Buddhist community in the New York City area.

Iris Ho is wildlife campaigns manager for HSI.

 

上文刊登原址:http://www.hsi.org/news/news/2011/09/catskills_visit_092211.html

 

我們的同事看了都好感動,我們也會把這個故事放在HSI的電子期刊,寄給我們全球各地的支持者。

當天招待我們的 Kathy Stevens 還在他們的網站上放了以下一段祈福儀式的短片,敬請觀看:

視頻原址:

http://www.youtube.com/user/CASanctuary#p/u/0/hb8oS7nbMG8

 

另外,剛好台灣最近在炒放生的議題,台灣的公共電視台還特地做了一個電視節目,各位有空可以參考,大家一起來思考:

http://talk.news.pts.org.tw/2011/09/blog-post_19.html

 

再次感謝各位的支持!

 

Iris Ho  iho@hsi.org  何燕青 

Wildlife Campaigns Manager