Saving Lives

The Buddha’s teaching invites each of us to reflect on the human condition, but also the condition of all sentient beings. Life constitutes the most precious good, and the most fragile that exists. Each of us is seeking happiness and safety. Though feeling benevolence toward those like us and our pets seems natural, it is often difficult to expand this to forms of life that are more “insignificant” in our eyes: insects, worms, birds, etc. However, each being is endowed with consciousness and the capacity to feeWe don’t have all the knowledge or the opportunity to save human lives (but don’t forget that giving blood and bone marrow also count as concrete ways of saving life), but saving the lives of animals destined for a terrible death—like that of the worm speared on the fish hook—is a practice that anyone can carry out.
Saving lives is a direct experience of the human capacity for action: we have power, that of preventing or lessening the suffering of others.
At the same time, the simple fact of being human means taking lives: walking; eating; driving a car as bugs are crushed the windshield. Saving lives allows us to become aware of our actions and their importance, and offers us the possibility to remedy harmful actions, whether voluntary or not, and to nourish sincere gratitude in regards to life.
It is also useful to emphasize that certain species, such as earthworms, which are necessary to the proper balance of the global ecosystem, are threatened by extinction. Saving lives intelligently also allows us to take care of our environment. In the context of Dhagpo’s 40^th anniversary, we will save lives throughout the year (see the calendar). A short version of the ritual of Amitayus accompanies this practice, and the merit of this practice is dedicated in particular to our master teachers. This meditative practice places lives under the protection of the Buddhas and thus ensures them a more favorable rebirth. One can also recite the mani mantra or simple wishes for their rebirth in better conditions.

Download Amitayus practice here. (will soon be available)
Download explanations to carry out the practice here. (will soon be available)
Download short Chenrezig practice here. (will soon be available, and in French here)

You can carry out the practice on your own or with a group. As with the recitation of wishing prayers, group practice strengthens the beneficial effect, which extends over the surrounding environment.
According to the region in which you live, different animals can be saved: fish, birds, earthworms (purchased from a fishing store), snails, etc. Take care to verify that the environment into which you release the animals is appropriate for them, and vice versa—that they will not adversely affect the ecosystem into which they are released.

You can also connect with this practice by supporting it financially, on site at Dhagpo or by addressing a check to KDC (with the memo, “Saving Lives”).
DKL
“Saving Lives”
Landrevie
24290 SAINT LEON SUR VEZERE

For details about the practice and any further information, don’t hesitate to contact us at dkl.benevolat@gmail.com oor to call 06 31 46 96 34 or (33) 6 31 46 94 34 for foreign calls.