The Restaurant
Or view the video on the server at:
http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/TsemRinpocheSavingLivesAtARestaurant.flv
Nice video of our little mission of saving the lives of fishes, eels and frogs destined to end up on the dinner plate in the next few days…
This afternoon, Tsem Rinpoche, Ladrang Liaison Seng Piow, Beng Kooi, Fat Monk, and Monlam were in a fish shop in Cheras to look for some fishes for the Ladrang’s pond.
Rinpoche took the group for a meal in a restaurant nearby. While in the restaurant, Rinpoche saw many fishes in 2 crowded glass tanks, and Rinpoche couldn’t bear it as Rinpoche knew the fate of these fishes – they will take turn to be on dinner plates throughout the Chinese New Year period. The fishes were huge, about 8 or 9 inches long and all of them will be gone in a few days!
Immediately, Liaison Su Ming was called and she put together a Ladrang “fish rescue team”, with Bonita, Wai Meng, Shin and Datuk May who headed over to Cheras fast. At the same time, Nicholas went over to make arrangement with Kepong Metropolitan Park management to stay open till late for animal liberation. (Datuk May is a grand senior lady, but she has no issues ever to get her hands dirty and get involved.)
After some negotiation, Fat Monk convinced the restaurant owner to sell the fishes at a reduced price. The owner also gave us all their eels free, knowing that we bought the fishes to be liberated. We also took all the frogs in the restaurant. They were so kind that they told us to liberate the fishes fast and come back to pay later or the next day! They let us go without any payment! I think they were touched by Rinpoche’s act of kindness and reciprocated. No restaurant will let go of their fishes easily during this period as supply of fishes are scarce, and the festive season is the peak period to make maximum profit.
On the 40-minute journey to the park, Wai Meng continuously scooped up water and poured it back to the tank so that the fishes get better aeration, along with reciting Medicine Buddha and Setrap mantra so that the fishes will make it to the park. At one juncture, Wai Meng even said words of encouragement to the fishes, “Just 5 more minutes, hang in there!”, haha!
We finally reached Kepong Metropolitan Park around 9pm and liberated all the animals. Just as we liberate the many animals tonight, we dedicate that many beings will be liberated through Kechara World Peace Centre (KWPC). We also pray that may the obstacles for Kechara and the growth of Buddhadharma be eliminated immediately, and also for the long life of our Lama.
These are the lives saved from the restaurant tonight:
33 Talapia fishes (72 kilograms)
3 Cat fishes (6 kilograms)
1 Patin fish
25 Eels (7 kilograms)
30 Frogs (17 kilograms)
The total cost was RM3435 (around USD1,122)
Write up by Shin Tan..
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I use the write up by Shin above as it is well written…but to add:
1. The restaurant owners were a bit skeptical in the beginning and then believed us finally. They didn’t want to sell in the beginning. They had pre-ordered the fishes for the holiday season. Together with fish orders, people order alot more food and it’s big business for them…yet they were willing to let the fishes go..
2. It turned out they are Buddhist too, but they said, they were ‘stuck’ in this business to earn a living. When the owners talked to us, you can see they had a lot of guilt in their voices and they are decent people.
3. They really hated the slaughter and especially the eels that would not die easily they said. They are not going to do the eels anymore and gave us the eels for free…
4. They decided to sell to us at the price they bought it..because they knew we wanted to do liberation.
5. At first I didn’t know whether I should approach them or not, but in the end decided, what is there to lose. Those fishes will be killed. So I decided to have my students talk to them and convince them…I waited in a car nearby within birds eye view to oversee what is happening…
6. Unfortunately we were able to liberate most except for 10 fishes that has been ‘booked’ for next few days dinner….sigh…
7. After transferring the fishes, the owners told us to go off quickly otherwise the fishes would be depleted in oxygen….WE CAN PAY THEM LATER….WOW!! THEY TOTALLY TRUSTED US AND LET US GO..and we had never met before..
8. I asked Fm and Suming to go the next day to pay the owners. I also gifted them with two Setrap statues and two Setrap boxes. There are two owners. They were shocked and appreciated the statues so much. Fm and Suming took the time to explain to them regarding Setrap as they had a Shakyamuni at home already. They were very happy about it…
It was great to liberate those animals. I want to set up an animal ‘brigade’ in the future to do more of this….All the people involved were very happy to liberate the fishes, eels and frogs..and it was done just before Chinese Lunar New Year’s so it is considered very auspicious to do something good just before the old year is finished…
Tsem Rinpoche
When I went into the resteraunt, I saw this. I was very unsettled and had to do something more than blow mantras on them….
We were very fortunate as we were able to buy over all their frogs also….
The restaurant owners were moved by what we were trying to do and they gave us the eels to liberate for free..Yeah!!!
Weighing the frogs etc to sell to us…
These poor fishes were just ready to be ‘swimming’ in someone’s stomach….NEVER EAT MEAT…NEVER EAT SEAFOOD..NEVER EAT ANY SENTIENT BEING..
The fishes being transported in the car…Wai Meng worked very hard to create oxygen by circulating the water on the 40 min ride to the huge lake where they were released…
Wai Meng who is a very compassionate person, scooping water constantly to create more oxygen…..
Finally releasing the fishes, frogs and eels into the lake where they went to freedom….
PS. People sometimes wonder how I choose or select individuals to go for these expeditions or spontaneous good works..well it depends on you…If you are available and your schedules are free to help then I will remember you or your name will be suggested to me… If you are called for this event, that activity, this meeting or what not and you are always or most of the times not available, then I tend to not disturb you or call you in the future because I figure you are not ready…..of course that is not permanent..I am not saying what you planned ahead is not important either and that is why you can’t make it…. It is not anything except how much you wish to be involved and I guage in that manner…If I guage you really are enthusiastic and you make yourself available for most activities you are invited to, then I make a mental note. Whether you show up on time and your enthusiasm as we are doing the work helps me so much to know if you are happy to be here or just came because I called you…I don’t want to force…… As time goes on, the ppl who are always available and do these things and join me in these works, I get to observe you as a person and perhaps will request you to be in a dept or division…that is how it’s all started. Many people in divisions or depts I place in come about in that manner…I do not mean to judge ppl, but it is my only way to guage. Some ppl I would like to definitely do more things with as I see they have potential, but they are not always available most of the time, so let it be…but I do thank everyone for everything…
February 3, 2011
A great story Rinpoche..Namaste…Namste…Namaste….
This story reminds me of a scene in the movie about Dalai Lama, Kundun, which H.H Dalai Lama was negotiating something with somebody by the lake, and saw some goats and cows at the other side, the assistant yelled at the person who took care of the animals that they will buy them all.
Compassion is an universal quality.
With you become a vegetarian, there will be less animals being killed, please be a vegetarian NOW!!
I am very touched… *sobs…*
This is the first year that I abstain myself from meat in the renunion dinners/lunch that I have attended during the CNY. In fact during one of the dinner I have decided not to join my relatives and have my own dinner (accompanied by my dad…) in a nearby vege restaurant. I am supposed to go back and join the other family members for the reunion dinners after taking my dinner. But I didn’t cause I feel awkward and uneasy. Nonetheless, I know I make the right choice and the feelings I have at that moment is nothing compare to the pain and sufferingsendured by those animals prior to being slaughtered, upon being slaugthered and after being slaughtered.
I was very touched by this story – especially how Rinpoche made an impact on the owners of the restaurant to be conscious of what they were doing and that at least, they were not going to kill eels anymore. How fortunate the fishes and frogs were that they were saved from certain death. By going vegetarian, we too can contribute towards stopping this senseless killing of sentient beings.
Shelly tai on February 9,2011 at 10am
Good job! After reading the story it actually remind us on compassion and kindness not just to human being but also animal.
I think we as a Kecharian should encourage more people to become vegetarian in order to prevent all these killing.
Dear Rinpoche
This is an inspiring story. One individual act to save the lives and alleviate the suffering of helpless animals can have very good results. These restaurant owners have now truly realized that killing live animals to serve for food is bad for their karma. The dharma seed and compassion has also been awakened in their minds through the gift of Setrap statues and may their obstacles be removed so they too will stop killing animals.
Every little act on our part to raise this awareness will bring liberation from suffering of these helpless sentient beings. May we all be motivated to do what we can in any way to awaken compassion for all sentient beings.
I feel so encouraged by this story. Thank you Rinpoche.
People might think this is crazy but Rinpoche just couldn’t see all these beings suffer and killed.
MAY NO LIVING CREATURE SUFFER, COMMIT EVIL OR EVER FALL ILL.
I am touched that the restaurant owner is not going to touch eels anymore after seeing that Rinpoche & team’s kind deeds. Given the awareness, people do change over time. I remembered we were asked to watch Earthlings, and after that it changes my perspective of eating meat because a life is at stake. Eating vegetables are healthy & can be delicious if cooked right!
It is always very sad that during festive seasons or any celebrations, animals are killed for human pleasure and taste buds. It would be so meritorious to refrain from killing and eating meat to lessen the sufferings of these animals.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing this act of compassion with us. By being vegetarian, we can save so many lives from being killed.
his is one of the ways for us to develop and generate compassion. Learn how to love and care.
Going vegetarian is super easy! Just think of the meat on the dinner belonged to another sentient being who also have family and the mental and physical suffering that they had to endured just before they die.
Furthermore, vegetarian diet is healthier and more wholesome.
I sincerely hope the restaurant owners quit serving meat and turn it into a good vegetarian joint.
I want to thank the restaurant owner because he can make more profits if he did not sell the fishes at reduced prices to us. Every lives have their own rights to live. We should treat them with respects. Those fishes are lucky this time. However, I really doubt their fates are still miserable if they get caught again. They cannot be that lucky and get away again. To prevent this, we need to educate people to respect lives. Animals deserve happiness too.
Animals deserve happiness too. Well said Julia. All beings deserve happiness. Who are we as humans, supposedly more superior than animals decide on their fate.
Everywhere Rinpoche goes, every breathe he takes, he is fully aware of all the suffering around him and he takes it upon himself to help them. One of the many many cases to illustrate this happened when Rinpoche took a group of students to a restaurant for a meal. He noticed several koi fishes swimming in a shallow small pond outside the restaurant. He had one of his students write in to the owner and offered to buy up the kois so that he can release them into a bigger pond. Afew days later, the kois were released.
Animals need our help more and we must be even more sensitive to them as they are unable to verbally express their sufferings.
Rinpoche genuine compassion always shown in Rinpoche’s action. Wherever Rinpoche goes always think of benefiting other and the action on the go. I’m so glad that the restaurant people stop killing the eels and at this moment Rinpoche not just save the fishes but changes the peoples mind permanently. So much rejoicing.
Being vegetarian is always the best way to not create the cause for others to kill. In fact now there are so many vegetarian restaurant out there that is healthy and delicious.
Check out Vegetarian Restaurant Review: http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/vegetarian-restaurant-review
Normal people like these restaurant owners knew about animal liberation because they are Buddhist but they were caught in this trap of having to make a living by selling these fish. Rinpoche could not bear to see these live fish go on dinner plates. Why? Rinpoche has never meant any harm to any kind of beings whether they have form or not. Saving others from being killed is like holding the vows of not to kill. Rinpoche made the effort to save all of them. Compassionate mind, compassionate action.
Hi May,
It is tough to be forced into doing something consistently when you know deep in your heart that the act is harmful. I do feel sad for the restaurant owners because they feel they are entrapped by the business they rely on for survival.
In expanding this situation, many of us made choices (with the perception that we did not have a choice) in our lives that we feel become entrapment. Eventually, these choices cause us great suffering physically and emotionally. For example: these restaurant owners experience guilt and, to a certain extent, fear of the consequence of their daily killing of many lives.
In Dharma, we have an “escape route” where we can correct these non-virtuous and harmful actions such as the practices of 35 confessional Buddha, Vajrasattva and puja. Additionally, something as simple as engaging in virtuous acts that are “antidote” to the harmful act can also purify the negative karma accumulated. Example: save lives to purify the act of killing, generosity to purify the habit of miserliness etc.
There are many things from this story that touch me – the always-present kindness of Rinpoche, the teamwork of Kecharians, the kindness of these two restaurant owners which was shown in their willingness to let go these seafoods without any money in their hands. They didnt earn any profit from this transaction clearly, and perhaps we can conclude that they did this at loss as they gave out eels free, but in exchange for this they have done merits by letting go these animals which were supposed to bring them fortunes.
This perhaps is an excuse, but I do think that if there are more vegetarian restaurants available, or that vegetable dishes can be cooked better, or that information is made more widely available to more people so that people can understand that vegetables can taste equally or even better than meat, I believe more people will convert to become vegetarians.
Why make others suffer to make ourselves happy…… .If only animals can talk then they can tell us how painful it is and how bad we humans can be most of the time…. Human form but animal heart.
After read this story, can see the owner of the restaurant are kind, to be frank, non of the restaurant wanted earn less in this ” money ” time, especially during Chinese New Year.
The most touched me is, what Rinpoche has done, buy every fishes, eels, frogs from a restaurant. How many people can do this? I am sure there’s very less in Malaysia. And i know this is not the first time, also saving life from some pet shop, streets and etc….
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing and teaching us. xxx ^^,
Dear Rinpoche, yes we can visit the restaurant again.
At first I think that the owner is not actually sincere to let go the fishes, frogs and eels, but I found that they are really sincere to do that because they really make effort to do that. Even though their business will get affected for sure, but they still agree to sell to us, and let us pay on the next day. They even say they are not going to sell eels anymore.
They chose to save lives more than money at that point of time, and that mind could generate more and more kindness in them. I think we should go back and talk to them again, as they already have the connection with Lord Setrap. We can create more awareness via the owner, hoping that their friends who do restaurant as well could be inspired by them. We should go back and talk to them, and we can do animals liberation again.
This is what in my head now. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful story with us.
Rinpoche love and care for all sentient beings is endless. Rinpoche have done such savior mission from time to time and everytime lots of precious life is saved. I hope to be a part of such rescue mission in the future too. I will and shall practice such compassion and try to save as much lives as possible too
As I read this and am having lunch…I am so relieved and guilt-free that I have no meat nor fish in my bowl of rice! There was once when Rinpoche went to an international food chain at The Curve where he saw several fishes in a pond which was too small for the fishes. The fishes were literally banging into each other and also hitting the Balinese decoratives in the pond. Immediately Rinpoche told us something must be done.
So, Dato Ruby and myself wrote letters in to the restaurant and told them it was unacceptable and unkind. It went on for a few rounds with the help of Andrew as well. We even at one time thought to just kidnap the fishes…but we did not la.
Eventually with our on and on nagging, the fishes were relocated to a much bigger pond at the owner’s home. This experience gave me the understanding and feel of a deeper level compassion which I never felt before.
This is such a good example of compassion. Making an effort to save these fishes, eels and frogs before they end up on the chopping board and served to the customers in the restaurant. We normally go to a restaurant and feel good after a guilt free meal of not eating meat. But how many will go as far as buying the fishes and live animals that are waiting to be served on dinner plates? Rinpoche really showed us a good example of taking one step further to help others (in this case the animals).
Joe
Another compassionate act by Rinpoche. And these animals receive holy mantras too besides being liberated. Many Chinese believe that eating frogs and eels is good for the complexion and scar recovery post operation. Hence, there is always demand for them. Hope this mindset will change soon. Eating fruits and vegetables high in anti-oxidant is also effective and does not involve killing of animals.
Normally when we walk into a restaurant,we would just express our compassion for the fish in the tank, that will soon be killed and fed to meateaters, by reciting Om Mani Padme Hum or Medicine Buddha mantras and blowing them on the fish. But Rinpoche cared for them so much that he bought the fish, the frogs and even got hold of all the eels( though for free)so as to release them.Except for a couple of fish that had already been ordered by customers, all of the fish were released the same night into the lake in the Kepong Metropolitan Park.
It is heartening to know that the owners of this restaurant sacrificed the huge profit to be made from the fish and frogs and eels which had been meant for the approaching Chinese New Year dinners.Dharma seeds were sown in their mindstreams that very night.
When we stop eating meat, we are actually saving the lives of all the beings we would have had killed for our meat dishes.Taking a vow to go Vegetarian out of compassion for these beings is one of the best Dharma practice we can engage in.
当我们用很正确的动机来做事情时，结果通常都会让我们意想不到? 其实，我们时常在做任何决定得时候，都会以结果的好坏来做考量，又或者以个人的利益来做依归，因此人们创造了许多烦恼，可怜的我们还在一直往外在的因素找答案。其实，只要警记因果定律，设定正确的动机，结果就一定会是好的。
Thanks for Rinpoche and rescue team effort for saving so many life within a short time, u all are awesome. Sometimes we are not notice that saving a life is so simple when we able convert to be vegetarian. Anyway most of us know the benefit of Liberation, and maybe do it yearly or monthly. But the most simple way that we can do liberation daily is being a vegetarian.
If we cant do it 100% then we should start less meat, and slowly our compassion for all sentient beings will arise then we will be a full time vegetarian hence able to do liberation daily…
Every being deserves to be alive and live, so do animals and no one deserves to suffer. The restuarant owners at first when approached seemed skeptical, but finally believed ’cause they are willing to let the fishes go as Buddhists which they admitted. Rinpoche presented them with 2 setrap statues and 2 setrap boxes and they appreciated them very much. Rinpoche felt great after the liberation as always, thinking of wanting to set up an animal “brigade” in the future for this purpose. Compassion is universal!
If everybody follows the same, there would be no killings; we should experienced living in a happy and harmonious world. Too much meat is harmful to our body. Whereas essence of plants may help in maintaining our body medically. So more vegetable please.
This is really unbelievable, a restaurant had prepared enough for them to make great income during this festive season, that would be one of the golden period in a year where they can generate money for themselves, but due to the compassion of Rinpoche and students, their sincerity is far beyond the limit, that’s why the restaurant owner willing to give up this chance of making money.
The shop owner can call for a very high price to cover back their loses, but they did not, they didn’t make a single cent from us, they sold it to us with their cost price, my oh my, how much wisdom and kindness they have.
liberating animal can bring us long and short term benefit, not only us, even the animals too does get benefited:
Immediate Benefits
- saving endangered life,
- protecting creatures from fear of death,
- accumulating positive karma by those involved with the life-saving efforts (offsets its opposite—the negative karma of harming life including killing)
Indirect, Longer-Term Benefits
- blessings and spiritual practices provide supporting causes for a favorable rebirth of the released animals,
- participants of the life-saving efforts will benefit in the future from causes for good health and longevity.
Liberating Animals from the Danger of Death is a profound method to prolong life and cure sickness. Relying on the truth of cause and effect, practitioners make special effort to give life and benefit to helpless creatures that are on the verge of being killed. By performing this powerful practice, we not only save these beings from immediate suffering, we also create the cause for their attainment of better future lives, from life to life to full enlightenment.
“I started the tradition of how to liberate animals… This is an incredible gift to them from us. It repays their kindness… It is so incredible how fast this will purify them. Their lives now will only get better and better.
—Lama Zopa Rinpoche
source from
http://www.chodron.org/liferelease/benefits-sick-or-dying/
Very simple comment I would like to add on: RESCUE BEFORE BE CHOP!!! The people who helped in this rescue process will gain a lot of merits because their compassion and good motivation. I am so happy saw so many animals be rescue before they be chop!REJOICE.
难以想象这么多海鲜类会成为桌上佳肴，感谢仁波切慈悲以及一班资深弟子的协助让这么多众生得以解救，不至于被宰杀。所谓“救人一命胜于七级浮屠”，不要为了满足口欲而杀害无辜，因果循环生生不息，要以慈悲与公平之心对待所有有情众生！
Liberating the lives of animal brings on longevity to one’s life too.
The amount of effort that Rinpoche and the team in helping to release these fishes and frogs is unbelievable. Most of us were either hanging out with friends or sleeping during the time this life saving took place. Kudos to the team!
It is really heart warming to see all these fishes and frogs gets to be released from the fear of waiting to be in the chopping board. I can’t bear to imagine how these helpless beings feel while waiting for their turn to be on the chopping board!
The restaurant owner were very fortunate to be able to meet up with Rinpoche Seafood Liberation Team.They were indirectly able to contribute toward the act of liberating those fishes and eel during the period they could make a lot of money from it.I am glad that they are given gifts by Rinpoche for their act of generosity and hopefully they will be able to practice dharma more often in the future.
The Seafood Liberation Team did show compassion and determination to make sure those about to be rescue did make it alive at the designated drop off point. Bravo !
whenever I passed by these kind of restaurants, I always wishes to free the fishes in the tank. But , I always doubt the owner will give to me, because this is their business income and during Chinese New Year it is hard to get the fishes to sell. If I gave money to the owners, i do not think i have enough money to buy the fishes. Thus I can only pray for the fishes.
This article, I wonder how Fat Monk able to convince the owner, not only to liberate the animal but they showed the guilt. To me, this incident is a miracle.
Thank you Rinpoche for showing to me again. Compassion can be many ways
I have noticed many of our Tibetan lamas do this practise of ‘saving’ animals who face imminent death. I have also wondered and seen the futility in the practise. In India, when they release small fishes in the pond full of large fish, well, these small fish become food for the big fish. And that practise of buying fish near the temples encourage the locals to catch more fish from wild. So, let us consider if we benefited or caused more harm.
In regards to taking fish, frogs and eels from the restaurant to release them in the wild. Are they native species, if not, you have introduced a foreign species in that lake. Some of these non-native species are very invasive and will kill and out compete the native species. eg., carps in the great lakes in the US, Pythons in Florida. Well, there is ofcourse the issue of that restaurant who will order other frogs, fish, and eels to replace the ones that were bought. So there is no net gain. And with possibility for much greater harm instead.
I would suggest that you buy the “feeder” gold fish from pet stores. These fish are destined to become food for bigger fish and are sold as live food. Build a small contained pond in your centre, release them there or keep them in your own fish tank. You are achieving merits of saving lives without causing more harm in the process.
Well intentioned, but perhaps misguided in action.
In Dharma,
Tashi
(a Tibetan).
It was very nice of Rinpoche to do this for the fish, frogs and eels. I wish i could have been there to help and watch the animals being liberated.
And i never thought that Malaysians actually ate frogs and eels. I was a bit surprised when i saw them. May everybody have the same amount of kindness that has been shown in this video. To help free more animals from suffering. Thank you for sharing Rinpoche.
I’m very happy to see that more lives are saved. They deserve to live,not to be eaten. I’m glad that the boss of the restaurant are willing to sell these animals over to Rinpoche for liberation, may the people work in the restaurant collect merits through this. Thank You for Your thoughtfulness and compassion Rinpoche, because of Rinpoche they have the second chance to live.
Love,
beatrix.
Thank you Rinpoche for saving life fishes, frogs and eels. We should not eat meat. If we eat more meat than more animals will suffer in pain to death. Why should we kill and eat meat for our own enjoyment. Thank you!
the fishes are saved!!!! i am very very very happy to know that these lives were saved. they are very fortunate indeed, now they can roam all they want in the lake, YAY!
Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing this act of compassion with us. Every lives have their own rights to live. We should treat them with respects.Being vegetarian is always the best way to not create the cause for others to kill.