Last Sunday was once again the opportunity to come together for the practice of Saving Lives as part of Dhagpo’s 40th anniversary: a memorable moment during Trinley Rinpoche’s course.

This practice connects us with the passage of time, the value of life, and its precious and impermanent nature. Life release reminds us of the importance of our actions from day-to-day, and the effort necessary to look after our possessions and resources, be they common things or precious ones, such as the place where we can receive Dharma teachings. This practice is easy to carry out at home or to organize with a group and is beneficial for those to whom it is dedicated as well as for oneself.

I am happy to be able to share with you some words from Martin, one of organizers of this practice and a devoted animal rights advocate:

Sunday, July 5, eleven am: Miro and I arrive at the quail farm in Salignac-Eyvigues. The farmer picks out one-by-one the fifty-eight females and twelve males who will be saved. All the others, six-weeks-old, will be slaughtered within the week.

Upon arriving at Dhagpo around twelve-thirty, we place them in a travelling coop in the shade with water and some birdseed. Finally, they have a bit of space to take a few leaps and run around a bit.

At 5:00 pm, the practice takes place with the special presence of Trinley Rinpoche and the course participants here for the weekend. We make wishes for better rebirths for the quails.

At 5:45 pm, the quails go back into their boxes to face a new destiny. The final voyage to their welcoming refuge in Bugue. Another round of winding roads, of speed bumps, of slopes that jostle their boxes for thirty-five long minutes despite our careful precautions, and all this in the suffocating heat. Fortunately, these are the final efforts necessary to make it to a small corner of paradise just for them: Abraham’s Ark, an association for the protection of animals that welcomes abandoned dogs, rodents, wounded birds, turtles, even fish…a haven of peace for all animals given a second life by Mrs. Abraham and her husband, who look after all these spared lives. A place marked by the barking of dogs playing in the garden, of birds singing in the dovecote, of turtles paddling in the pond.

All of the quails survived the expedition. Upon arrival, their new caretakers placed them in an outdoor enclosure, with a shelter in case of heat and bad weather. After five minutes of shock in the tall grass and open space, there they go: frolicking, pecking, cackling and leaping about. This is where they will spend the rest of their lives, about five whole years!

It should be noted that while the slaughterhouse sold us the quails for the modest sum of 1.80 Euros the bird, the cost to feed them for the duration of the lives comes to 45.00 Euros per quail. Those who wish to participate in supporting the extended lives of these quails can contact Dhagpo for more information and to make a donation.

• To know more about this practice, visit the page Saving Lives.