The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.112)

TZU CHI 112 15 posture and guided it in regaining muscle function through rehabilitative exercises. He had also crafted a bed with improved ventilation to ensure Rocky’s comfort. Rocky’s well-being was the couple’s primary concern – a testament to their burgeoning compassion for the weakened animal. Boon Ngoh had to compromise on her freedom to leave home for Tzu Chi commitments and run errands, as she was worried that her neighbours would be annoyed by Rocky’s relentless barking whenever it was in pain. However, despite the pent-up stress of being confined at home, she never gave up on Rocky. “I’ve no complaints. Rocky was family. It deserved a chance at life,” she reiterated as memories of Rocky brought tears to her eyes. Even the vet could not ascertain Rocky’s chances of recovery and advised the couple to consider euthanasia. Their friends suggested that they adopt a dog of the same breed in Rocky’s place, but the couple was prepared to exhaust all means to nurse it back to health and find a cure for Rocky, and resolved to stay by Rocky’s side till its demise. “We have no right to claim a dog’s life. All beings are equal. Is opting for euthanasia any different from an act of killing? I would not even eat a morsel of meat, let alone take a life,” remarked Swee Ueng. The inherent Buddha-nature of all sentient beings Swee Ueng and Boon Ngoh would follow Master Cheng Yen’s teachings on Da Ai TV with Rocky – a routine activity that continued even after Rocky fell ill. The couple held back from tearing up OneStepataTime SavingtheEnvironment in Rocky’s presence as they could not bear to burden Rocky with their sorrow. “If we had not embraced vegetarianism and sought refuge in Master Cheng Yen’s teachings together, I doubt we would have been able to pull through Rocky’s ordeal the way we did, with mutual understanding and compassion. It has become second nature to us to apply the Master’s teachings when faced with challenges in our daily life,” confessed Swee Ueng, who admired his wife’s dedication in caring for Rocky and sharing the Dharma with it, guiding it to refrain from preying on small animals and consuming meat in order to avoid being reincarnated in the Animal Realm. Amonth before Rocky’s demise, Swee Ueng and Boon Ngoh began substituting Rocky’s meals of dog feed with its favourite fruits – apples and papayas – instead. Rocky ultimately left this world a vegetarian. “Engaging with the teachings of the Dharma enables me to apply its principles in daily life and prepared me to cope with Rocky’s ordeal. I sympathized with Rocky’s plight as I realized that I would have been as helpless as Rocky was if I were afflicted with a terminal illness. This realization has compelled me to cherish every opportunity to serve with Tzu Chi,” reflected Boon Ngoh. Rocky breathed its last on December 18, 2018, after two years of meticulous care by Swee Ueng and Boon Ngoh. It was buried in the front yard of the couple’s home, with flowers marking the burial site. Looking back on the time spent with Rocky, Swee Ueng and Boon Ngoh concurred that their canine companion had left them a valuable lesson – that all sentient beings have the capacity to feel and deserve equal respect.