Lifestyle changes concerning Buddhism 8

Observation of the beauty of mice allowed me to relax and accept their presence. Whereas once I would scream, leap upon a chair and panic - then set a trap, now I was able to observe their miniscule pink fingers, long thin whiskers, and curling gray tails. They were far more frightened of me than I of them, which I observed whenever trying to take a photograph to share my new wonder of their existence with others.

Relying for several months on charity handouts, I felt rich in giving the mice a few scraps for their own meals. This balanced out the take and give for me. I did not feel wrong in taking food from society if I shared it with my teenage son, a growing flock of pigeons, and the mice in my home. It was not all going into my own belly, but supporting others as I myself was being aided.

Gradually, I grew to accept spiders in my bedroom. I am currently able to sleep with a half dozen or more living peacefully on the ceiling above me, and with one webbed just above my pillow even. I only have to wonder if that gray wriggly BEING up in the corner might be the rebirth of my own mother, to cease screaming and running for spray or a broom. How would I live with what I had done, were I so squish or chemically murder my own mother!

Learning to communicate with non-human beings has also assisted me. Using the language of the heart, I was able to talk with the pet pigeons who live on our roof. This developed into compassion for and communication with other beings, such as the cockroaches. I am now able to ask them to please be a little quieter, but enjoy any scraps they may find in the kitchen, should they disturb my sleep at night.

From a no-care attitude with chemical murder, through a do care but what can I do attitude of chemical-free destruction, I have now reached the Buddhist target of Ahimsa. This has not stopped - and I have progressed into my dietary stance of 95% vegetarianism.