James: I have read some information on being able to help animals have a good rebirth. Such as whispering mantras in their ears and capturing insects and releasing them outside.
Other things we can do is to live a vegetarian lifestyle and not pursue harmful vocations such being a butcher. Or engaging in harmful activities such as hunting animals. As Buddhists we realize that animals have been our mothers, fathers, children, lovers, friend, etc. to us in past lives so hurting them is really like hurting ourselves.
Another thing we can do is to adopt an animal as a pet from the animals shelters and care for them with great compassion and love.
The following is a beautiful example of Buddhists protecting wildlife:
Wat Phai Lom is a Buddhist temple not far from Bangkok which welcomes thousands of visitors from afar every year. The visitors are birds, open-billed storks. When residing at Wat Phai Lom during autumn and winter months, their droppings white-wash trees and temple buildings.
The monks do not mind, and bird-lovers celebrate the sight. Open-billed storks would be extinct in Thailand but for the fact their last remaining breeding ground is within the sanctuary of this temple.
James: One of the things that we do here at our house as well is that we have Tibetan prayer flags hanging above our front window. They face the bird feeder and it is our hope that the birds (and squirrels) will see the waving flags and absorb the good karma to help them suffer less and maybe have a good rebirth.
What do you think of doing things like this for animals? Does it help them? Perhaps is helps us more then the animals but I think it has some positive effects on them.
-Peace to all beings-
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