Vegetarian Cat in South Korea
Can you believe that there is a cat in South Korea who is vegetarian and prays?
This video is of the vegetarian cat who goes by the refuge name, 解脱 (Free oneself). A nun rescued the male cat a few years ago, and it has been living in the temple with many other nuns since then. Every day without fail, the cat will go to the prayer hall, sit on a cushion with its paws placed in front and eyes staring at the Buddha statue as if he is praying!! Very interesting!
The cat will only leave the prayer hall after many hours. Sometimes, when the Chief Nun wants to bring it out to play, he refuses to go. It just sits at prayer hall and stares at the Buddha statue.
A few years back when the Chief nun rescued the cat, she instructed the cat not to make any noise in the temple compound, not to eat meat and not to kill any beings…the cat listened and complied! Until today, he does not eat meat…even when a piece of fried chicken is placed in front of the cat, he does not get tempted! This vegetarian cat has also not gone against the other rules set by the Chief Nun.
The video also shows a visitor to the temple who was so curious and impressed with the cat to the point she prostrated to him!!
Could you have imagined that a cat could be vegetarian, pray and refrain from killing any beings?
I have added a video below, as well as the translation. Do watch how well-mannered this cat is. He can sit in front of the altar for hours throughout the day, looking at the Buddha statues on the altar.
Tsem Rinpoche
(Image from: http://wallpampers.com/animals/2031)
South Korea super cute vegetarian cat who ‘prays’
and does not kill
http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/cat-in-temple.flv
Or view the video on the server at: http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/cat-in-temple.flv
This temple in South Korea besides having nuns also has a special resident which is a cat that goes by the refuge name, 解脱 (Free oneself).
Not like the other cats that goes around to play, this cat goes to the prayer hall every day, two paws place in front, eyes looking at the Buddha statue, looking like it is attentively praying. The cat will sit at the same position for a few hours and even though the Chief Nun brings the cat out to play, the cat still makes its way back to the front of the Buddha statue to sit. After sitting for a long time, the cat finally leaves the prayer hall. The cat walks so quickly, where is it heading to? Oh it wants to eat.
Like the nuns, the cat also only eats vegetarian food. After the Chief Nun rescued the cat four years ago, she instructed the cat to not make noise in the temple, to not eat meat and to not kill. The cat seems to understand as it has not gone against the rules for the past four years. Even though there is a fried chicken drumstick in front of the cat, the cat will not eat it.
There was a tourist who was very curious about this cat who prays till the point she prostrated to it. In actuality the cat sits at the prayer hall every day is it because of habit or is it really praying? Only the cat knows!
Love this story. And it’s so good to hear that all the nuns and the cat are vegetarian.
Our two cats have been vegetarian for the past 2 months or so now and they are doing really well on it. Their food contains all essential nutrients including taurine which is essential for cats. They have never been livelier and are more affectionate : )
Great to see this South Korean cat keeping his vows! What good karma he is creating, we should all rejoice on his behalf. : ) I wish that he can achieve the goal of Enlightenment soon. Amazing story …
Wonderful! Our two cats have also been vegetarian now (for about one year) and are doing perfectly and very happy! The food is a special preparation with all their daily requirements. All the best!
Dear Rinpoche
This is such a great news. I always think that it is absurd that in taking care of one animal, we have to harm another.
Warm regards
Valentina
This is quite cool. Maybe it is a past life impression. I tried training my cat before. It would not do anything extraordinary like the cat mentioned above. I guess this cat can be an example to mankind to be vegetarian and also follow what the cat does
Wow! Even a cat could do that – inspiring!
My cat has taught me humility before and I expect him to teach me other things too. Hopefully I can repay him by training him to be a vegetarian…
Wow amazing. Looks like this cat meditates in front of Buddha statues! I guess it must be the strong imprints from previous life. And he is a vegetarian too and holds on to his vows. May he take a good rebirth!
How cute! Karma might have led him to be where he is now. It just showed that countless life time of prayers can lead us and bring us closer to dharma if we practice it sincerely. At least, the cat is very near to dharma; he might not have the full conditions to practice like we are, but it is the mind that to be trained. Wonderful being!
Amazing indeed – a cat who’s vegetarian, doesn’t kill and meditates!
At this rate, he would be freed from samsara faster then most humans!Most importantly, though, it sends a strong message that, if a cat(a carnivore by nature) can be vegetarian, why can’t humans?
Cute kitty! I’m amazed by her perseverance staying in the main hall for hours looking undisturbed at the Buddhas with admiring eyes. And furthermore she avoid killing! I feel she’s not ordinary. Very inspiring example. Thanks kitty cat
Cats hunt and they eat meat – it’s how they have evolved. Look at their claws, their teeth, even their bodies – they are little hunting machines. They don’t have moral values, they are innocent, they have no malice and beyond our stupid human prejudices. So, if a cat kills, it is not bad karma for them. There is nothing great about a vegetarian cat. It is not a better cat. It’s a cat that eats vegetables.
Cat can also choose to have a compassionate diet. If Cat can do this, humans can easily do likewise without any difficulty.
This is an amazing cat! Be inspired.
This cat is a very special cats. From this cat, i saw in him strong “Guru Devotion”. Even a cat can learn how to devote to a Guru. This touched me deeply.
[...] My guru’s name is Swami ”FishSmellAnanda”. Swami, how I love you, how I love you, my dear old swami. Sometimes I just want to bite her (instinct). It is a challenge though to sit still and meditate when outside I can hear the sounds of birds singing outside my window. My spiritual beliefs? I do believe in life after my nine lives. “ReinCatnation” is a strong belief of mine. I must be disciplined for I want to become a Swami Cat like my guru. Join me now in a new cat chant. Kitty nap, kitty nap, kitty, kitty kitty nap. Don’t you feel peaceful now?I like meditating with my mommy. I I like meditating with my mommy. I practice the old fashioned, TM…StrayCatButtonnose.jpg"> [...]
This cat is so adorable! He obeys the chief nun and never eat meat or kill an insect or animal, this is so amazing. If the cat can be a vegetarian and doesn’t even kill a life at all, why can’t us humans do it? So if think you are better than the cat, then you better stop eating animals. And here is the amazing part, the cat will sit in the temple stare and pray to the buddha statue for hours without walking around. Thank you
This is so cool. Why does South Korea have all these cool stuff. This and now Gangnam Style
It is very cool to know that even animals are going vegetarian. Vegetarian foods are extremely good for cats, it has all the necessary nutrients.
OMB, this is so cute!
Rejoice with the cat to have the chance to be closed to Buddha Dharma. Although I am not sure if it is really practicing by sitting in front of Buddha image, but I am sure it has good imprints planted.
It has also not committing more killing by being vegetarian. Even a cat can be vegetarian, what excuse can we say to not to be vegetarian!
One thing that really scares me about becoming reborn as an animal is that I will have no control over what I eat. It doesn’t matter what I eat, but the fact that I may have no choice but to eat meat and continue the vicious cycle of being part of the killing food chain is a horrible feeling.
This cat story is an amazing read. It shows that perhaps in his/her previous life, the cat was probably a vegetarian and hence in this life it’s not easy to eat meat.
Even in this life, I find it difficult to digest meat. I hope that this repulsion towards meat is brought over to my next life – regardless of what state I’ll be reborn in!
This is such a wonderful article to read! Good to know that the cats are vegetarian. Now that the cats are vegetarian, then why can’t us practise the same thing?
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
Love, beatrix.
wow, this is amazing and cool! i cant believe that a cat can do all of this it is really nice to know that a animal can do this along with people. maybe a monk in the past life?…
This story is very interesting. Who would have thought that predatory animals like cats can go vegetarian! If cats, who are meant to eat meat, can go vegetarian, I do not see how humans are incapable in becoming a vegetarian. If someone says that it is impossible to be vegetarian, show them this article!