Bardo

For the next seven weeks, we will leave Angel's upstairs apartment furnished with her favorite napping locales, her food and water bowls, and various toys and scratchers.

The Buddhist state of bardo, when the departed's soul is making it's transition from one plane to another, is what The Hubby and I observed with Chuck's passing, and are doing so for Angel.

Nothing much will be moved or changed, just what is needed so Manny and Chili Bruce won't knock everything over.

If Angel's spirit comes back to visit, she'll see that her things are as they were, and that we have not nor will not forget her.

"In the bardo state, your pet may still have some awareness of you, and perhaps other family members, irrespective of where you are physically. They can still be positively influenced by your practice of meditation and mantra recitation, particularly if you dedicate any virtue arising from the practice for their benefit. For seven weeks after the passing of your pet, you are still able to help them, and should do so to whatever extent you are able."

Read more about observing bardo by clicking below to visit author David Michie's blog post:

How we can best help our pet in the seven weeks after death

• I still listen for her meow.
• We turn on the lights in her apartment.
• I swear I've heard the sound of her chewing kibble.
• While taking a bath, I call "Nan-ja-la!" into the silence, as I did when she was with us.
• Every day, I step into her apartment and ask if she likes my outfit.
• Both of us pat the empty spot on the chair, where she spent so much time. 
• 15 plus years; her absence leaves a gaping hole in the household.

Angel, showing a bit of attitude!

🌹💓🌹

Bardo

Can Chucky really be gone a week already?  It just doesn't seem possible.

Chuck loved this beddy!

The Hubby and I have chosen to observe the Tibetan or Buddhist tradition of bardo, for Chuck.  In a nutshell, while a soul is in transition between the physical and spirit worlds after death, the family shows great love by leaving everything as that soul knew it in life.  Beds, bowls, favorite toys, pile of woolie socks...all remain and are not put away. 

We created a Chuck shrine, which consists of a framed photo, and we talk out loud to Chuck.  The presumption is that he will visit 'home' during the 49 days after his passing, to observe us and recall his life.  We honor him with our loving words and this allows him to remember everything, and will help him move on to his next life.  After the bardo period, we will rearrange things to suit living with Angel alone, such as removing a couple of litter pans, uncovering the chairs that are draped with blankets under which he loved to sleep, and dispose of his medicines.

I suggest that you search the interwebs under author David Michie, where you can read about bardo in his blog dated August 5, 2017.  Mr. Michie has written many books, but we cat people may know his "The Dalai Lama's Cat" series most of all.

Again, thank you for the kind thoughts and prayers. 

💗😿💗

Book Review: The Power of Meow

Author: David Michie

Publisher Hay House Inc Publication Date 6/15/15 ISBN 9781401946241

The third of the 'Dalai Lama's Cat' novels, opens with poor H.H.C. (His Highness's Cat) discovering that she has fleas!  Once the critters have been eradicated, the cat continues to suffer stress because she can still feel the creepy and itchy feeling all over her body, which she calls Post Traumatic Flea Disorder.  As her new journey begins, she learns how to find peace in her mind by remaining in the present, and refusing to dwell in the past.  The cat, along with a cast of characters that surround the Dalai Lama and the town nearby, find meditation, yoga, and some past life recollections allow them to quiet anxiety.  The author, David Michie, touches on how reducing every day stress through quiet contemplation has been scientifically shown to help a body heal itself, plus the possibility of longer life.

H.H.C. is a delightful narrator, telling the stories of the people and animals around her, as each one travels through life and learning lessons along the way

“Pain is inevitable,” the Dalai Lama continued. “Suffering is optional. We will all have to endure trauma and challenges. What matters is how we move forward afterward. Do we keep carrying the trauma and its causes in our mind? Or can we find a way to let go of them, to end our own suffering?”

Another delightful book, as have been the first two novels.  Pick up a copy at your local library (that's how I did it!), and spend a few hours enjoying...and learning...of the possibilities of quieting one's mind...with a delightful kitty as your guide!

The Art of Purring, by David Michie

The Dalai Lama's Cat and The Art of Purring
ISBN-13: 9781401943271
Publisher: Hay House, Inc.
Publication date: 11/28/2013
Pages: 209

I often sit at the computer terminal at the library, and type in 'cat'. Thousands of book titles show up, and I browse through them, hoping to find a gem.  Well, I found one, when I discovered David Michie's "The Dalai Lama's Cat", published in 2012.  The story of HHC (His Holiness's Cat) is delightful, endearing and thought-provoking. Without giving ANY of the stories away, this cat encounters many people and animals day to day, and the telling of how she views the world...and how Buddhist ideals are also cat ideals...makes a terrific read for anyone. Not to mention the joy of good food, and...um, erm...a bit of hanky panky?

THEN, just a few weeks ago, I discovered that David had written a sequel novel, called "The Art of Purring".  As soon as the book arrived at the library, I started to read as I walked home.  (You know, don't you, that it's not a great idea to put one's head in a book while walking in suburbia, right?) I've finished in record time, and I almost don't want to give it back.

Meditation and mindfulness, enjoying life while respecting life, forgiving one another while living in the present are wonderfully aspirations that this sweet cat and her human companions bump up against and then embrace.  Throw in a couple of chasing dogs, an email misprint, and a house fire to keep the reader riveted!

But WAIT!  There's more!  As I researched online for this post, I found out that Mr. Michie has released a third book about HHC!  Hokey smokes! "The Power of Meow".  Now I must be patient, while this book becomes available at the library. Perhaps I shall meditate on how generous the universe is, to have given David Michie the story-writing skills that I so enjoy.

Or, I'm going to drive to the nearest book-store and buy all three books so I can re-read them time and again!  Patience?  Me?!  Ha!