Compassion, Peace, and Vicious Dogs

[Ya Mu]

...

On Saturday, I was driving my mother-in-law home, a four-hour drive each way. Stopped at a rest area along I-40 on my way back (after having spent most of six hours practicing stillness-driving ) Walked out into the picnic area and stood between two big long-leaf pines. Did some standing S-M and then started Gift of the Tao with my eyes still closed. During the fourth movement, I felt a presence. Open my eyes and, sure enough, standing about six feet in front of me and watching me was a gray squirrel!

 

Looked kinda vicious and I've learned about rabbits from a documentary I once watched ("...long, sharp, pointy teeth...") so I was naturally petrified.

 

Anyhow, I smiled at him and returned to my practice. When I stopped, he was in a dogwood tree, still watching me. I offered light to the two big pines and went back to my car.

 

I was surprised to see that over an hour had passed.

 

You bring up a good point about this subject that is ignored by those who read but don't do actual Taoist inner practices. We can and do bring calmness to the animals that we interact with. Repeatable. Definite. No questions about it. If everyone practiced these practices there would be no need for having fear of a little or big dog.

I just worked on a 2,000 lb horse who could not stand up. He was fretting and in great pain. He now is grazing in the pasture and is calm as the breeze.

[Aaron]

Actually, Texas has it totally wrong with those shocking prison sentences.

 

Anyway, the point was more about your personal ethics than about the dog issue at all. Advocating imprisoning people for a long time, for pretty much any reason, is not in line with the quote that you have said you live by.

 

Playing judge and punisher, besides being very harmful to others (especially with the careless attitude which you've displayed)...is also very harmful to yourself.

 

A person who says, "they should get 20 years" without any consideration, as you just did...should be the one that has to make that decision about the real person's life. Things change then! Hopefully...

 

The judge should also have to go through the full punishment themselves, in order to fully understand the decision they are making for that real person's life. Then things would really change, I'm sure...as long as it wasn't a psychopath.

 

Then there'd be an experience of real compassion...real knowledge of suffering and harm, as well as the wish to alleviate it for others.

 

Things aren't exactly as they should be, though...which is a very good thing for those of us lucky enough to still live in freedom.

 

Do no harm--- don't allow an animal to do harm to yourself or others. The bite has to do serious physical harm, so a chihuahua isn't going to be able to do that kind of damage, but if it was able to and it did cause that kind of physical damage to someone, then they should be held responsible for their pet's actions.

 

Do no harm to yourself or others, doesn't mean you shirk responsibility for your actions. Maybe in pretty pony land people will just be nice and if they do something bad, nothing happens, but in the real world there are consequences for one's actions.

 

I don't care what kind of dog someone owns, they need to be responsible for their pet's actions, that means take responsibility and accept the consequences for what their pets do. If they aren't willing to accept those consequences, then maybe they shouldn't own a pet like that.

 

I'm sure you might feel differently if someone you love is injured by an animal because of someone else's negligence. Forgiveness is compassionate, but sometimes it's not enough, sometimes it takes punishment for someone to learn the error of their ways. Just like spanking a child isn't always wrong (Buddhist monks do it by the way), neither is jail time.

 

Of course I'm sure most people realize that I'm not advocating that everyone who's pet bites someone should have to serve ten years in jail, but the punishment should be commensurable to the injury incurred. Ten years maximum sentence seems too little for many of the incidents that occur. Is ten years in jail worth a child's face and eye?

 

I'll give you points for word play, but I would recommend you choose someone else to play those games with, because I always say what I mean and I stand by what I say.

 

Aaron

Edited May 11, 2012 by Twinner

[Aaron]

What if it's a Chihuahua bite? The poll bothered me because I knew they were about the bitey-est dog, so I found some statistics. It might be unusual for someone to be killed by a Chihuahua, but they can mess up a kid or a face pretty bad. Pit bulls are middle of the road for temperament and frequency of biting. They do have disproportionately strong and powerful jaws though, so when they bite they easily do a lot of damage. Dog bites tend to clean up well and heal okay at least, now cat bites, those get some really nasty infections that can become systemic. And of course there are those green iguanas So, you will have to figure it out, doesn't seem very compassionate to send pit bull owner 10 years to jail for a bite and let Chihuahua owners get off smirking and make some smart remark about how their dog is tougher than he looks when he inflicts suffering.

 

http://indigorescue.org/?page_id=83

 

read my reply to scotty.

[Aetherous]

"Do NO harm" is pretty damn clear. Enough of that, though...I can see when someone is incapable of listening or changing.

[Aaron]

"Do NO harm" is pretty damn clear. Enough of that, though...I can see when someone is incapable of listening or changing.

 

Scotty get over yourself. You're the same person that recommended that the mods ban anyone that talks about something off topic in a thread. Go screw with someone else that doesn't see your hypocrisy. I'm not wasting my time trying to defend myself when I've done nothing wrong.

 

Aaron

[Aetherous]

I wasn't attacking you or screwing with you at all.

[Aaron]

I wasn't attacking you or screwing with you at all.

 

Then lets just agree that we disagree, nothing wrong with that. Our words aren't going to change anything...

 

Case in point- the next door neighbors have three small children, all under eightish, and two german shepherds. The dogs bark at everything that comes near their fence, but they seem to do well with the children. I don't think they're really any threat to the kids, nor me, so long as the fence is closed. They seem fairly responsible and I don't criticize them or talk to them about these types of things. Now if they owned two pit bulls, I wouldn't hesitate to warn them about the dogs and what I've learned. However if the dogs attack their kids, then I still believe they should be held responsible for that. Good people, good dogs, but still responsible, that's all I'm saying.

 

I'm not above recognizing my own experiences being bitten as a child and having a long standing phobia of dogs has colored my opinion on this topic, but much of what I say does stem from my own logical conclusions regarding the topic.

 

 

 

Aaron

[eye_of_the_storm]

//

Edited May 11, 2012 by White Wolf Running On Air

[chi 2012]

That's from the reptile guy. Green iguana attacks are responsible for more emergency room visits than all other reptiles combined. They also commonly carry salmonella. Pythons and captive born crocodiles are safer pets. Bearded dragons and leopard geckos are really good pets if you want a reptile. Also, we lose a few species of amphibians every day because our water is becoming more and more poisonous. No compassionate person would use weed killers or put poisons on their yard.

Hmmm. That's interesting. Do you have a link - I would like to know more. I've had green iguanas and never had a problem. I had a boa when I was a kid that would scare the shit out of me when he would strike at me thinking I'm food.

 

I read once where a guy was found dead in his apartment - and his monitors were eating him. Also, sometimes snakes eat and constrict people. I would say large snakes and monitors are more dangerous overall.

[zanshin]

...

Edited April 19, 2020 by zanshin

[Brian]

My brother brought home a green iguana one time and gave it to me -- he had been working for a lawn-care company (we still lived in South Florida at the time) and it got injured so we gave it a little first aid. Vicious little thing! (Actually, not so little -- this one was about five feet long, counting the tail.) Had to wear leather work gloves when handling it. After a few days, we released it and it hung around in our backyard for a few days.

 

Had a cousin who collected poisonous snakes and sold them to the Miami Serpentarium. He got bit a few times but nothing too serious. He caught a pygmy rattler one time that he decided to keep. He would walk around Coral Gables with it, holding its head and letting it wrap around its wrist. The second time it bit him it got him good and nearly killed him. As far as I know, that cured him of snake-catching.

 

Ya Mu, I have been directing my intent at my dog and, weak as I am, he responds to it! I can only imagine how influential someone who has been cultivating inner calmness for a long time might be.

[zerostao]

You bring up a good point about this subject that is ignored by those who read but don't do actual Taoist inner practices. We can and do bring calmness to the animals that we interact with. Repeatable. Definite. No questions about it. If everyone practiced these practices there would be no need for having fear of a little or big dog.

I just worked on a 2,000 lb horse who could not stand up. He was fretting and in great pain. He now is grazing in the pasture and is calm as the breeze.

 

this sorta post usually falls on deaf ears here. i already offered to walk along with a certain bum who was terrified if a dog barked at him, who has long been complaining about dogs on this forum and show vbum a peaceful path walking in harmony. i offered to cover all my own expenses to do so even and i was just scoffed at by vbum and called ignorant and un compassionate and advised to quit posting on this forum altogether.

i certainly appreciate you Ya Mu and how many times your insight has probably been over-looked or ignored here. it is great to see that your patience , perseverance, and understanding has been rewarded and you are

able to share such helpful knowledge and skill. keep up the great work.

[Brian]

Can you say more about this intent that you have been directing?

 

My brain had decided that energetic healing was something that might be possible for a select few and then probably after years of practice. During the second day of the Stillness-Movement workshop I attended a couple of weeks ago, however, I experienced a tangible shift in my vibrational energy. Michael talked some about sleeping qigong so, as you might expect, I gave it a whirl that night.

 

We left Terre Haute (my wife went along for the ride) after the workshop and I practiced Stillness-Driving for a couple of hours before we stopped for the night. Practiced sequential energy center activation while laying in bed and then tried to maintain awareness on my dantien as I fell asleep. Didn't remember falling asleep but I guess I did.

 

I woke in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat. My hand was on my wife's shoulder and she was twitching like a dog dreaming of chasing rabbits (or whatever it is dogs really dream about...) I had put her into movement. Not surprisingly, the moment I focused my consciousness on what was happening it all collapsed.

 

The next day, we drove the rest of the way home. I practiced stillness most of the trip and we stopped to pick up our dog from the kennel (a really nice place that partners dogs for "play dates" so he had a pretty good time, I think). I did S-M and then GOT I before bed and then was out like a light.

 

About 5:45 the next morning, my wife woke me. She had been up with the dog for more than two hours. The dog had apparently picked up kennel cough and had been hacking & weezing half the night. My wife had already taken a shower and woke me to tell me she was going to take him to the emergency vet clinic before starting her day (she had a telephone installer coming "any time between 8 & 4"). I learned all this in less time than it took me to write it so I was still half asleep and more than a little disoriented. The coughing dog walked up to my side of the bed as I swung my feet to the floor. Without really giving it thought beyond something like "Poor boy! I wish I could help you feel better", I reached out and put my hand on his back. He coughed maybe twice more.

 

After about two minutes, he walked away, crawled in his little bed next to ours (which he rarely uses) and went to sleep. Wife & I decided to give it until lunchtime and see if he needed to go to the vet -- I would take him if her phone guy hadn't shown up. Called her just before Noon and she told me the dog slept for about thirty minutes and then barked his fool head off at squirrels the rest of the morning.

 

Did I "heal" him or was he just having some sort of panic attack or hayfever? I honestly don't know.

 

What I do know is that he now comes up to me every time I am doing S-M. He traditionally wants attention in the form of petting or chasing him around while he holds a squeeky toy. Now, however, he is very content with letting me either "brush away bad chi" or point fingers at him with the intent of flowing chi into him and displacing bad chi. I generally acknowledge his request for attention by opening my eyes and holding out one hand in a "stay" gesture. I then leaves me alone until I have finished (unless he needs to go out!) After finishing my S-M, I spend a few minutes on him. I make sure to place some awareness on two spots (near the middle of his back and his right hip) that I know trouble him.

 

It may just be in my head but it seems that I feel a twinge in my body in areas that need attention in his body and sort of work that spot until my feeling goes away, if that makes sense. I'm not really thinking about "fixing" anything as trying to be calm and holding my awareness on my dantien while letting energy flow through me with the intent of it flowing into him.

 

My wife has a few aches & pains, too, and I've been practicing on her without calling attention to it. So far, I'm having better results with the dog...

 

[thelerner]

So much rests on our basic assumptions. Some see a large dog owner (pit bull, German shepard etc.,) and can't imagine they're not insane, naive, almost a terrorist in the way they put public safety at risk. And in there defense if you look at some statistics you can find justification for such feelings. Yet most people know in there gut is an over reaction.

 

Yet people who own dogs, feel the opposite. When things go well, normally society and the owners greatly benefit from owning a dog, ie they get love, loyalty, longer life, protection etc.. In our neighborhood the dog owners (all types) are the connectors who know everyone.

 

My nephew was once mauled by a stray dog, when he was young, 8 or 9. He was a dog owner and lover. His family had a string of super intelligent white german shepards. Afterwards he and they remained dog lovers. My sister was bit by her dog, needed stitches. Still has the dog, still loves it.

 

I don't know what my point is here, so here some other point; we're not going to get rid of all large dog breeds, so it behooves us as individuals to learn to get along them, not be terrorized. Understand they're not a threat 999 times out a 1,000.

 

Today I was walking with my sister, a dog person, (despite rant, I am not) we saw 2 large dogs unleashed on a well kept lawn and we moved to the other side of the street. It was no problem, probably we didn't need to, but we did. No need for anger, terror, fear, etc., just following our instinct, no problem. I expect if we knew the dogs and they knew us we wouldn't have (there may have been an invisible fence too).

 

As an individual to believe they're dangerous is to live in fear and that's bad. To believe they're good is to live happier. Maybe both kinds of people will get bit some day (undoubtedly more likely for the fearful person) but the happier individual won't be traumatized.

 

 

Ramble..ramble..Ultimately as Taoists we must seek Harmony with the world we live in. And that means accepting the things we can't change.

Edited May 11, 2012 by thelerner