Saved from a vicious dog.... again!

I have to write this to thank the Buddha for being my ultimate Protector, and others who protect me directly or indirectly from harm.

I feel grateful because I could have been mauled by a vicious dog.... or seriously bitten by it. And who knows it could have rabies. There have been deaths due to such cases. I was walking along a lonely lane.... kind of scary on hindsight.... I usually avoid such places... but the crazy apps map guided me there....  I had been misled, because later I discovered there are shorter ways to reach my destination without having to go to these isolated places.

Anyway there was this black dog that appeared out of the blue and there was no one else there. No houses too to run into to hide. It looked vicious and came closer and closer to me. It growled. My heart jumped a bit. I tried to stay calm and kept waving my bag to shoo it away. Then it become more vicious. It was a situation that could have turned for the worse. But suddenly the dog turned and ran away.... glancing back to look at me as it fled. I felt relieved. Phew! That was close. Then I walked faster to get away from there.

The incident reminded me of the same thing that happened quite a number of decades ago. Only the dog seemed bigger. Or, perhaps that was because I was a young schoolboy then. The dog actually chased after me. I think I have written a post on this. Somehow, for no obvious reasons, the dog also made a sudden U-turn and ran away.

Since I have no clear explanation, I could only attribute this to my protectors - the Buddha being my adored Ultimate Protector! It is only by the blessings of the Buddha, that there are other protectors as well. Don't you think so? Anyway, my deepest gratitude.

Anyway, there was actually another dog on the way back. This second dog only looked and cautiously followed from behind but decided not to follow me after a while. What a relief! The farther they stay away from me the better.

Prior to that, I attended a short lecture on a few verses of Shurangama Mantra at Dharma Realm Sagely Monastery. Thank you again!

 

Earth Store Bodhisattva's Student Apprentice

If and when I die, just in case I do not come back as a human being, this is what I want to be.

I want to be Earth Store Bodhisattva's apprentice. I want to be in his team to help sentient beings. Since he is said to be "stationed" in the hell regions, to liberate the beings there, I have thought before that I want to be there to help him. You see, I have had a dream before long time ago, that I was in the inner chambers of hell. I was an officer of some sort. No, not punishing beings, but not sure what I was doing there. Perhaps some kind of auditor. So, this is how I want to be Earth Store Bodhisattva's student apprentice. I will have the ability to check a being's karma and see how I can help him/her. I will assist the Bodhisattva in helping sentient beings "cross over" when they "pass' over into the next life. Well, the Bodhisattva will have not just one apprentice. He will have a team of students /disciples and administrators to assist him. What I have described is just one tiny part of the job scope. But crossing over the bardo can be a scary experience and it would really help if there is someone to reassure us. Don't you think so? Hmmm.... what else do I want to be?

But am I indulging in some fanciful thinking? Hahaha...LOL!