It is a habit. It is difficult to say exactly when or where that habit came from, but social researchers have an opportunity to conduct research on this habit.
 Bob Isaacson |
Going to the temple on Poya day, performing Bodhi Pooja due to an illness or troubles, leaving dogs and cats outside the temple and slipping away quietly are habits. As mentioned earlier, we do not know where these habits came from. It is the same gentlemen who dispose of garbage that piles up in their home on the roadside, who abandon families of cats and dogs in the vicinity of Buddhist temples.
Sometimes there are devotees who visit the temple only to invite the resident monks to carry out the ritual of ‘Pansakula’ when a death occurs in the family.
When someone dumps animals, the monks of the temple do not take these animals to another place. What they do is share alms they receive, with these uninvited and unwanted animals. In some temples, the alms they receive are even not enough for the monks. So, either the animals starve or the monks starve. The monks cannot prevent these animals from breeding and becoming victims of illnesses. Some do not like to visit temples which are teeming with animals, since they believe they are dirty and smelly.
According to information obtained by the organization ‘Dhamma Voice for Animals’ from their representatives across the country, sometimes there are about 20 dogs in a temple. In another temple there could be 15 cats. These animals have nowhere else to go and the temples do take care of them.
Recently a programme was held at the Balapitiya Kurunduwatta Shailabimbarama Viharaya in the South to treat dogs that had been left in temples and to carry out sterilisation operations. Another programme was held to raise awareness among Dhamma school children, about the sin of harming innocent animals. This was led by the Dhamma Voice for Animals.
The significance of this programme is that it was conducted based on a concept of an activist who is not a Sri Lankan but an American who deeply loves and cares for abandoned animals in Sri Lanka.
“I love this country very much. I have been to Sri Lanka five times now. My religion today is Buddhism, but I had another religion by birth. I worked in human rights for a while.
There is no other Dhamma such as Buddhism which teaches people to live simply, based on truth and compassion. It is this country that spreads Theravada Buddhism to the entire world today. Buddhist monks of your country live in various other countries and dedicate themselves greatly to this Dhamma Dutha effort”, said President/ CEO, Dhamma Voice for Animals, Bob Isaacson.
Bobby, who is also a practising lawyer, is a voice that is active worldwide against the death penalty. Today he spends most of his time advocating for animal rights. Bobby was born in Poponia in California, USA and as a Buddhist today, he is striving to highlight practically the great values of Buddhism. Bobby says that patience, optimism as well as abandonment are great examples of Buddhism. He also says that life is the same for humans and animals.
“It was in your country that there were kings like King Buddhadasa who treated sick and helpless animals.” Even the raging pandemic has not deterred him from this noble mission. The 73-year-old Bobby, though active like a young man, made this comment with a smile on his face prior to his departure to the USA. He will come again to Sri Lanka soon, when time permits to continue his mission.
