To A Small Teacher ... Master Tin Tin, Now Passed

[Nindo]

Oh, this is very sad ...

Gassho,
Nindo

[Risho]

Awww, that really sucks.. Pets add so much life to a home. Metta to you and your family.

Gassho,

Risho

[KellyRok]

Oh dear, so very sorry to hear this news. You are all in my Metta this evening.

Gassho,
Kelly/Jinmei

[Heishu]

Sorry to hear this, I wish you and your family the best in dealing with the loss of your dear cat Tinky. Much Metta to each of you.



Heishu

[Myoshin]

Sorry to hear that, I don t have cats but when I was mith my ex I learnt to love them and know their presence may be so much than words.
The next zazen will be for the cat and Jundo and his family.

Gassho

Myoshin

[Fugu]

There is no such thing as "just a little animal". One of the famous philosophers said "But first of all, be a good animal."

I hold you and your family in my heart tonight.

Gassho,

Lee

[Anshu]

Great compassion for your family Jundo. The death of a master, even animal, is always a great loss.

Gasshô
Anshu-Henri

[Nengyo]

Oh no... I will dedicate my metta chant to master tin tin

[Hogo]

Goodbye Master Tin Tin
Peace to you and your loving family.
Gassho.

[Dokan]

I remember him well and hope for quick healing for your family.

Much metta,

Dokan

[Nenka]

I'm so sorry to hear this.

I used to love when he'd come into the zendo and roll around trying to get attention.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26380553@N05/6133657368/in/photostream/

Gassho

Jen

[Dosho]

That's a great picture Jen; thanks for sharing!

I lost my own beloved orange tabby this year very suddenly (we think his heart just gave out) so this has brought back memories, most of them very good ones.

Deep bows.

Gassho,
Dosho

[alan.r]

Really good picture, Jen. Cat zazen, I think. A difficult technique.

I hope another Tinky scurries into your family's life when the time is right.

gassho

[Daitetsu]

Yesterday I remembered a good story about Zen teacher Seung Sahn who was asked by a child about death.
Thought I'd post it here, as it is about a cat as well...
Hope that's OK, Jundo?

------------
One evening, Katz, a black cat with a white-tipped tail who
lived at the Cambridge Zen Center, died after a long illness.
The seven-year-old daughter of one of Seung Sahn Soen-sa's
students was troubled by the death. After the burial and
chanting to Amita Buddha, she went to Soen-sa for an inter-
view.
Soen-sa said, "Do you have any questions?"
Gita said, "Yes. What happened to Katzie? Where did he
go?"
Soen-sa said, "Where do you come from?"
"From my mother's belly."
"Where does your mother come from?"
Gita was silent.
Soen-sa said, "Everything in the world comes from the
same one thing. It is like in a cookie factory. Many different
kinds of cookies are made-lions, tigers, elephants, houses,
people. They all have different shapes and different names,
but they are all made from the same dough and they all taste
the same. So all the different things that you see-a cat, a
person, a tree, the sun, this floor-all these things are really
the same."
"What are they?"
"People give them many different names. But in them-
selves, they have no names. When you are thinking, all
things have different names and different shapes. But when
you are not thinking, all things are the same. There are no
words for them. People make the words. A cat doesn't say,
I am a cat.' People say, This is a cat.' The sun doesn't say,
'My name is sun.' People say, 'This is the sun.' So when
someone asks you, 'What is this?', how should you answer?"
"I shouldn't use words."
Soen-sa said, "Very good! You shouldn't use words. So
someone asks you, 'What is Buddha?', what would be a
good answer?"
Gita was silent.
Soen-sa said, "Now you ask me."
"What is Buddha?"
Soen-sa hit the floor.
Gita laughed.
Soen-sa said, "Now I ask you: What is Buddha?"
Gita hit the floor.
"What is God?"
Gita hit the floor.
"What is your mother?"
Gita hit the floor.
"What are you?"
Gita hit the floor.
"Very good! This is what all things in the world are made of.
You and Buddha and God and your mother and the whole
world are the same."
Gita smiled.
Soen-sa said, "Do you have any more questions?"
"You still haven't told me where Katz went."
Soen-sa leaned over, looked into her eyes, and said, "You
already understand."
Gita said, "Oh!" and hit the floor very hard. Then she
laughed.
Soen-sa said, "Very very good! That is how you should
answer any question. That is the truth."
Gita bowed and left. As she was opening the door, she
turned to Soen-sa and said, "But I'm not going to answer that
way when I'm in school. I'm going to give regular answers!"
Soen-sa laughed.
------------

Gassho,

Daitetsu

[LucardieC]

Oh Jundo,
my thoughts are with you and your family.
A loss of life, animal or human is always trying on the mind.
It is not very Buddhist of me, but my heart aches for your family's loss.
I hope your little ones are finding strength at this time.
If not, a good hug helps.
Sending peaceful energy your way.
Much Metta Jundo,

Deepest bows
Chelsea