(With apologies to Kevin Costner)
By Dorothy Scarth
In Buddhism, there are five hindrances which are recognised as having the potential to hamper or impede practice. These are:- ill will, desire, restlessness and anxiety, doubt and indecision and (my favourite) sloth and torpor. But this misses out hindrance number six - Cats! Definitely one that has predominated my attempts to meditate. So I have written this for anyone who is experiencing this very powerful hindrance.
Today is a day when I feel able to remain vertical for a few minutes without keeling over into an untidy heap. Today is the day when Enlightenment feels like more than just a far off dream. Today I am going to meditate.
I get up from the sofa and go and sit on my upright wooden chair and assume my best upright ( but relaxed) posture. My intention is strong. Today nothing will stand in my way.
I close my eyes, my hands resting in my lap and start to bring my awareness to my breath.
Cat, who has previously been snoring in his sleep, opens eyes and looks at me in an appraising manner. Something interesting is going on.
The Mindfulness of Breathing. Breathe in, breathe out, count one. Breathe in, breathe out, count two....
Cat, who is of some considerable weight due to addiction to Friskies Fish Shaped Delights, jumps on my lap and sits down facing me. Concentration momentarily broken, I return again to the beginning. Breathe in, breathe out, count one. Breathe in, breathe out, count two...
Think to myself, 'these thoughts are just a bubble in the mind of the Buddha'. Cat thinks, 'Owner is just a bubble in the mind of Buddha'.
After a few minutes of observation and realising that he is being completely ignored (and as we know what is ignored has a tendency to grow stronger), Cat stands upright on his hind legs and places paws firmly on each shoulder, nose half an inch away from mine. I know this because I sneaklily open my eyes, being careful not to open them too wide in case he knows I'm "there". Return again to the beginning, breathe in, breathe out, count one. Breathe in, breathe out, count two, breath in...
Still standing on his hind legs, Cat pats my cheek gently with his paw, in manner of "You know you love me really". I register the paw, the very persistent paw, pay it positive regard , take a deep breath and return to the count. Breathe in, breathe out, count one. Breathe in, breathe out, count two...
Cat, who cannot believe he is being ignored, now starts to pat cheek more insistently and then to rake my hair with his claws. Thoughts of returning Cat to RSPCA fill my mind, ill will and desire coming together all in one go. Think to myself, these thoughts are just a bubble in the mind of the Buddha. Cat thinks, Owner is just a bubble in the mind of Buddha. Back to one again. Breath in, breathe out...
Cat now pushes extremely wet nose up against mine - and keeps it there. I register the very wet gooey sensation, and my increasing thoughts of irritation and catricide, then imagine them dissolving into the air and falling like lotus blossoms to the ground. Cat imagines his thoughts of irritation dissolving into the air and falling like Whiskas Meaty Chunks into his bowl. Return to the count - again! Breathe in, breathe out, count one....
Cat butts nose hard up against mine, keeps it there and blocks off necessary airway.
I GIVE UP. I am defeated.! Nirvana will have to wait for another day. I open my eyes, see him standing there eyes fixed intently on mine, and scratch his head gently. . He purrs loudly, turns round and settles down on my lap. I look down at him and a shaft of sunlight illuminates his fur, highlighting the deep browns and black. I stroke him gently, feeling his fur soft and silky beneath my hand, his body sturdy and compact. I hear the bass hum of his purr. I smile and think of how funny he is, and how much I love him. He looks up at me and purrs even more loudly. This, he assures me telepathically is true enlightenment.
Mission accomplished.
Dedicated to Jesse
(sadly no longer with us),
a true Bodhisattva among cats.
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