[118] How Our Bird Sprouty Hopped Onto Āmítuófó’s Palm
Sprouty entered our family about three years ago when our daughter bought him without our consent. She was staying with him at a HDB (Housing Development Board) flat near NTU (National Technological University) during the COVID-19 pandemic while schooling. Sprouty was a budgie, also known as a common parakeet. He was a runt, very small for his species, very introverted and cautious. The only thing that could motivate him to be excited and quick on his feet was food, especially seeds and spray millets.
Sprouty and his subsequent bird companion called Mizu came to stay with us only two years ago, when our daughter graduated. It took him more than a year before he became comfortable with us and the environment. He would come out to play on the roof of his cage and his favorite toy was the toilet roll.
As he was always bullied by Mizu, I became his protector and we developed a very close bond. He trusted me and was very comfortable with me, even vying for my attention after night-feeding despite constant threats from Mizu, who is much bigger and extremely possessive. We are usually the ones to tuck them in for the night. My wife would say ‘Āmítuófó’ (阿弥陀佛), and I would say. ‘Āmítuófó will protect you’. Sprouty’s wings were clipped before he was bought. In the last few months of his life, Sprouty was so confident that he would flutter to the ground and run to me or my wife, asking for seeds. That was the image I had of him.
The day of his passing came as a rude shock to our family as we were on holiday in China. My daughter’s friend brought him to the vet as he was constantly sleeping, even when perching on her fingers, something he would never do except with me. He died after taking an X-ray in the clinic. We were devastated.
We decided to have a Buddhist send-off and cremation. Feeling guilty that we were not at his side when he needed us most, my mind raced to assess what to do. I messaged my Taiwanese friend, a Tibetan Buddhist, who volunteered to do a smoke offering (for karmic purification) and Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva prayer for Sprouty. He also asked that I do visualisation practice while chanting Āmítuófó’s name, imagining Sprouty dissipating into light that merges with Āmítuófó’s light of blessings.
(In Chinese Pure Land Buddhist practice, sincere upholding of Āmítuófó’s name to be mindful of Buddha [持名念佛] is a complete practice in itself, with visualisation of the Buddha [观像念佛] being a separate practice. Recitation has been encouraged over visualisation since the Pure Land Tradition’s Second Patriarch Great Master Shàndǎo [净土宗善导大师] time as people generally found it challenging to visualise well, while recitation will be adequate for connecting to Āmítuófó, even leading to actual sight of him.)
I would use the above image of Sprouty running on the ground for the practice, doing it for the next few days without much conviction as this technique is new to me. Nonetheless, my wife and I did chanting of Āmítuófó’s name whenever we had time. I have instructed that Sprouty’s niche be placed at the bottom of his cage, as it was the place of refuge for him whenever he was bullied. When we returned, we continued with our offering of guidance (开示) and support-chanting (助念) whenever possible. (Guidance has to be understood by the dying and deceased, to be motivated by the support-chanting, to personally recite along sincerely, to connect to Āmítuófó.)
It was during the second seven-days’ period that the amazing happened. Like on other days, I sat on the floor in front of the cage, with a small Buddha image placed before his niche. More than halfway through the chanting, I became a bit agitated with myself. Although I was much more sincere in my chanting than in regular PPF (Pureland Practice Fellowship) sessions, there were quite a lot of stray thoughts. I tried to concentrate. Then out of desperation, I attempted that visualisation technique again, but still got ‘nowhere’.
Continuing chanting, Āmítuófó suddenly appeared in my mind clearly. He was standing beside Sprouty’s cage. He was at least a head taller than me, and much ‘bulkier’ than me in his golden robe. I was surprised that Sprouty’s cage looked a little bigger and elongated (which means this was not from my imagination, which would accord with my expectation). Āmítuófó began sliding his right upward-facing receiving palm along the gate’s long side. Standing at the edge of the gate was my little Sprouty, with his ‘blur-blur’ (i.e. slightly confused) look staring at Āmítuófó.
I was so excited that I told Sprouty to climb onto Āmítuófó’s palm, which he subsequently did. Āmítuófó then turned away from me towards the wall. As I was not sure if this was from my imagination or visualisation, I tried to ‘make’ him turn my way by thinking about it. But it did not work, as he disappeared. (This actually proves what seen was neither imagined nor visualised, as Āmítuófó did not do exactly as wanted, which would be possible if controlled by the mind.)
I was illustrating what seen to my wife a few days later, about how Āmítuófó turned away from me, when she highlighted that Āmítuófó was actually turning to the western direction, where his Pure Land is, thus indicating Sprouty’s destination. This shocked me as I tried to figure out the direction. She was right. We were both surprised by this revelation and it reaffirmed our hope and belief that Sprouty is now in the best place possible. (As there was no preconception of the direction or purpose of turning towards it, this also proves what seen was neither imagined nor visualised.)
We still continue with our support-chanting and intend to do so for 49 days, to dedicate more merits to Sprouty. After that, we hope to get Mizu a new companion via adoption, from someone who needed to let go of their budgie due to unforeseen circumstances, as we do not want to encourage the pet trade. Mizu misses Sprouty very much and would fly towards his painted pictures every now and then, sometimes calling his name. Hopefully, this will fill the void. We will also continue encouraging Mizu to recite Āmítuófó’s name.
I contemplated on how I could connect Āmítuófó despite being a little frustrated just moments before. The first possible explanation is that the connection was not so much mine, as it was more of Sprouty’s, and I happened to see it. It was Sprouty’s aspiration (愿) pumped up to 100%, even if for one thought (乃至一念), that enabled his connection. (However, I must also have some connection to witness that.)
The second possible explanation is that while I was disappointed with myself just before, though I was new to visualisation practice, I could not have been too distracted as I was trying to do it well. Even unsuccessful attempts at visualisation of Sprouty running towards me required much concentration. Thus, my mind was not really scattered then. That moment of ‘visualisation’ was thus quickly replaced by the actual vision. (It is easier and safer to focus on recitation alone since the mind can only have one subject in each moment, making it easier to focus single-mindedly. There will also be no confusion as to whether what seen is real, or merely imagined, visualised.)
(As the Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng (净土宗十三祖印光大师) emphasised, the utmost sincere mind (至诚心), which is wholeheartedness (一心) is crucial for connecting to Āmítuófó. Thus, the concentrated mind (定心) is actually secondary. If there is great sincerity, despite having some stray thoughts, connection is still possible. The frustration was actually a side-effect from sincerity in wanting to connect Sprouty with Āmítuófó. Such ‘desperation’ does not lessen sincerity. In fact, it should had increased it.)
It was very heartening to witness that a small bird with a brain smaller than a marble can also make it to Pure Land. (If Sprouty could reach Pure Land, so can we.) All of us can do our part, even for the pets we love. Mindfulness of Buddha is is truly a practice applicable to all sentient beings. Thus, should we offer guidance and support-chanting for all, even animals.
Note: Guidance can be as simple as — ‘Please be most sincerely mindful of Āmítuófó’s name, till you see Āmítuófó, to follow him, to where there is no more suffering; only bliss.’ (请用最诚恳的心，念阿弥陀佛，直到您见佛，然后跟佛，到他没有痛苦，只有乐的世界。) A picture of Āmítuófó can be put nearby as a reference. It is possible for animals with affinity to live long with humans to understand the gist of our words. After death, their consciousnesses which have departed from their bodies will be clearer in comprehension too. Even if they cannot recite the Buddha’s name verbally, as long as they are able to listen to it with Faith (信) and Aspiration (愿) sincerely, with this as their Practice (行), they too can connect to the Buddha to reach his Pure Land.
Námó Āmítuófó
C. Kwang
15 November 2024
相关教理
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如何念佛除魔不着魔？
How To Be Mindful Of Buddha To Eradicate & Avoid The Demonic?
https://purelanders.com/2019/01/04/how-to-be-mindful-of-buddha-to-eradicate-avoid-the-demonic
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[19] How Āmítuófó Manifested To Guide To His Pure Land With Twelve Skilful Means As A Parrot
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https://purelanders.com/2025/03/25/177-if-birds-also-can-be-reborn-in-pure-land-what-more-humans
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[18] How Āmítuófó Manifested To Guide To His Pure Land With Ten Skilful Means As Fishes
https://purelanders.com/2020/06/02/how-amituofo-manifested-to-guide-to-his-pure-land-with-ten-skilful-means-as-fishes
