Thubten Chodron, an American-born Tibetan Buddhist nun, who is resident teacher at Dharma Friendship Foundation in Seattle, presents a fascinating overview of Buddhism in this primer. Here's a passage that will interest anyone with pets; it suggests sharing your devotional life with your beloved animals.
"Based on our actions, our minds are attracted toward certain types of rebirth when we die. It may seem difficult to imagine that a human being could be reborn as an animal, but if we consider the fact that some people act worse than animals, it doesn't seem so far-fetched. For example, animals kill only when they are threatened or hungry, while some human beings kill for sport, fame, or power. If someone's mind habitually goes in a certain direction, it makes sense that his or her body could correspond to that mental state in a future life.
"Similarly, animals can be reborn as humans. Although it's difficult for most animals to do many positive actions — it's hard to teach a dog to meditate or to offer community service — it is possible. For this reason, Tibetans take their animals when they circumambulate holy monuments in order to put good imprints on the animals' minds. Many people enjoy saying their prayers or mantras out loud so their pets can hear them and be exposed to such soothing sounds, even though the animals do not understand the meaning."
To Practice: Include your pets in your devotional life. Let them stay in the room when you are meditating, saying your prayers, or listening to sacred music. Read to them from a sacred text.
