During the final days of our journey, Āloka often cried out loud because he was afraid of being left behind when he saw the monks walking ahead. His cries caused great concern among us as we worried about what would happen to him at the end of the journey. There would be no shelter for Āloka, and every temple in the area was home to many mean dogs that had bitten him several times, making him terrified to enter.
Āloka was originally a homeless dog who had likely suffered a lot of injuries, so whenever he saw another dog, he would growl out of fear of being attacked. However, he stayed close to me and learned to trust me, seeing me as a safe place. I cared for him regarding food, sleep, going potty, and medicine when he was sick. That’s why the monks often told me that when Ajahn Paññākāra went back to America, Āloka would stand and watch, dying from a broken heart like an elephant seeing off the Buddha.
Recognizing Āloka’s good kamma during our time together, I am resolved not to let a dog like him, with the seeds of such great blessings, who just completed the journey of Following the Buddha’s Footsteps crossing thousands of kilometers. I couldn’t bear the thought of him falling back into the same hopeless life he had led before. As I think about the last day of our journey, I can vividly picture Āloka standing there, watching the monks depart and being left behind. The thought of Āloka crying until his last breath, as we had witnessed before, was very sorrowful.
What I had been worrying about turned out to be true. Āloka was attacked at the Thai Temple in Bodhgaya when he followed me there. Nobody could ignore Āloka’s fear, and I had to take him out of the temple for his safety. Moreover, Āloka had been walking too much and was getting exhausted, often lying flat on the ground, unable to move. Due to the lack of proper nutrition and consumption of unhygienic food for an extended period, he developed blood infections, flea fever, helminths, and other illnesses. Thankfully, I took Āloka to urgent care. Although his condition had improved, he endured much pain after two days of injections that went straight to the bone. His bitter cries caused concern among doctors, nurses, and waiting-room guests. I am unsure what kind of kammic connection is happening, but he has been constantly injected with drugs since he met us. Is it a blessing or a curse?
I decided to bring Āloka to the United States and support him for the remainder of his life. How can one turn a blind eye to a being who has had favorable conditions and has been blessed to create great merit on the journey of Following the Buddha’s Footsteps? As sentient beings, we are blessed with more capabilities than these little beings, but not all of us can do what Āloka did. Even though we were often exhausted and running out of strength, our minds were also restless, let alone a dog just over two years old.
Āloka is blessed indeed, having received attention from monks and Buddhists in many places. Venerable Dhambodhivong (Virayuddho), Chief of the Theravada Sangha of Thai monks in India and Nepal, smiled joyfully at me and said, “We have been relatives for many lifetimes, as brothers in dhamma on the path to liberation. However, due to the lack of kammic conditions, Āloka and his three friends wandered as homeless animals. Now, they are fortunate to have met us again on the path of Following the Buddha’s Footsteps in the land of the Blessed One. Your immense love for Āloka has led you to bring him to the US, which is worthy of praise and shared joy. I am full of joy, truly full of joy!”
Additionally, upon hearing about my decision to bring Āloka to the United States, some compassionate Buddhists generously offered to contribute towards the necessary expenses. The monks also praised and admired this act of kindness, and I am grateful. It is impossible to convey the deep kammic connections Āloka has formed with us in words. I sincerely hope that we will continue to care for and protect him.
As it is said, “All sentient beings in the three realms and six paths were once our parents, and will be our relatives in the future.”
As our journey neared its end, Āloka became friendlier and closer to the monks, seemingly aware that it was time to part ways. His face looked tired and sad, lacking vitality and energy, evoking a sense of sadness in all of us. However, we could only imagine what Āloka was genuinely feeling.
Finally, Ajahn Aduln and I said goodbye to the Sangha and took Āloka and Sukho to New Delhi. Before we left, the monks came out to bid farewell to Āloka, playing and caressing him with great affection. Witnessing their love for Āloka brought me immense joy. As we drove away, the sight of the monks waving goodbye to Āloka slowly disappeared from our view. After more than 20 hours on the road, we finally arrived in New Delhi. We completed the necessary paperwork for Sukho to return to Thailand with Bhante Aduln and for Āloka to come with me to the US.
After days of back-and-forth, Sukho finally arrived in Thailand to join the Sangha. Meanwhile, finding a suitable place for Āloka to stay had been challenging for us in New Delhi. The procedures for Āloka to fly to the US involved numerous obstacles, and we had to take care of the quarantine procedures and expenses on our own. However, there were still obstacles on the transportation side, including fees, costs, and documentation, and even the airline we chose, Qatar Airways. Despite these challenges, we persisted in trying to get Āloka on the road and bring him to the US.
After intensive days of working with Carry My Pet to handle the procedures for Āloka, he could finally board the plane. However, his face looked weary, sad, and contemplative, as if there were thousands of things he wanted to say. Did Āloka know that he would not be able to see his teacher for a month? I had prepared warm coverings and an assortment of toys for him, but the airline refused to transport them. At 10:00 am on Saturday, April 8, 2023, Carry My Pet picked up Āloka from Farmhouse Inn in New Delhi to take him to the airport. They didn’t allow me to tag along. Sitting in the car and talking with Āloka for a while, I got out of the car, and Āloka nervously ran back and forth on the bench, looking up at me through the rear glass. But his eyes seemed to ask me, “Why? Why isn’t the teacher coming with me? Abandoning me again?” I was also helpless; there was nothing else I could do but say goodbye, give blessings to Āloka, and tell him I would see him again in a month.
#chuahuongdao #chuahuongdaotemple #sbsstupas
#buddha #buddhism #Dhutanga #dhammajourney
Source: Dhammacetiya
