The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.112)

TZU CHI 112 13 Swee Ueng shares a tender moment with Rocky in its final moments before bidding it a final farewell. [Photograph courtesy of Teng Swee Ueng] Swee Ueng began acknowledging Rocky as a family member rather than a mere guard dog. “Rocky is like our third child. I talk to it daily and share our food with it instead of feeding it leftovers. Rocky also fetches me the newspaper from the delivery man every morning,” shared Swee Ueng. Spending time with Rocky and practising vegetarianism have changed the couple’s attitude towards animals. They have stayed true to their motivation of embracing vegetarianism, respecting all forms of life and understanding that protecting animals is, by extension, a commitment towards conserving the environment and mitigating disasters. Their affection for Rocky has bred in them a deeper sense of compassion and sympathy for stray dogs and cats roaming the streets. Swee Ueng has been practising vegetarianism for the past 11 years, and opined that compassion is a trait inherent in all human beings, yet is rarely unearthed to its full potential and is often neglected in our preoccupation with worldly attachments and hedonistic temptations. Adopting a vegetarian diet enables one to sympathize with the plight of livestock and cultivates a more profound appreciation for animals as sentient beings worthy of living, rather than a source of sustenance or novelties to be irresponsibly abandoned at whim. Moreover, embracing vegetarianism diminishes gluttonous desires and greed, besides enlightening one to the notion that universal peace and harmony is only possible if all sentient beings maintain a balanced co-existence. Swee Ueng’s experience of caring for Rocky has enabled him to better understand the significance behind Master Cheng Yen’s call for everyone to respect all life forms and nurture compassion through vegetarianism. Equal compassion for all One day in January 2017, Boon Ngoh returned home from her recycling duties to see Rocky leaping onto her bed. As she beckoned Rocky down from the bed, the latter howled in pain and collapsed on the floor after its limbs gave way. Tears streamed down Boon Ngoh’s face as she watched Rocky struggling in vain to lift itself off the floor. She phoned Swee Ueng for help. The couple rushed Rocky to the vet, where it was diagnosed with a cracked spine. They realized too late that Rocky had been enduring prolonged discomfort from an inappropriate feeding posture, as it needs to feed from an elevated food bowl to prevent injuries from constantly lowering its head. Boon Ngoh felt guilty for her negligence in failing to notice Rocky’s suffering, which OneStepataTime SavingtheEnvironment