The Kung Fu Nuns taught us by their example that the true meaning of love and respect for animals are the actions we do to contribute to their well-being. Find out how a group of Buddhist nuns face, with concrete actions, some of the greatest challenges of the 21st century: the creation of a harmonious relationship with animals in the midst of accelerated economic development.
Dear Steemians,
In this post we want to share with you the amazing story of the Kung Fu Nuns and how they are contributing to animal welfare.
Who are the Kung Fu Nuns
Could you explain what does a nun deals with in the 21st century? Possibly, many westeners do not have a clear idea of what Buddhist nuns do today. Perhaps the ideas they have are strongly associated with certain stereotypes imposed by culture, society and many other factors.
The Kung Fu Nuns defy any stereotype. This is a group of nuns belonging to the Drukpa lineage: a thousand-year-old Buddhist tradition that began in the Himalayas. They are called Kung Fu Nuns because they started practicing this type of martial arts in order to learn self defense and to build internal and external strength. They claim that the practice of Kung Fu has helped them improve their meditative concentration and stay healthy and strong.
But the greatest motivation for the Kung Fu Nuns to practice this type of martial arts goes beyond the mere goal of acquiring extraordinary physical abilities, staying in shape or attain impressive levels of concentration. The Kung Fu Nuns work to achieve these results with the sole motivation of developing an optimum physical and mental state that allows them to work hard for the benefit of other beings.
That is why all the activities carried out by the Kung Fu Nuns are aimed at helping others: they promote gender equity, physical health, sustainable lifestyles and respect for all living beings… such as animals. It is this last activity we want to emphasize and share in this post, so you can get to know more about the Kung Fu Nuns and support their initiative.
How do the Kung Fu Nuns help animals?
The Kung Fu Nuns are collaborators of Live To Rescue, an animal protection projects considered as one of the most efficient in the Himalayan region. The project is part of Live To Love, a secular nonprofit organization. This international organization was founded by The Gyalwang Drukpa, leader of the Buddhist Drukpa lineage.
The ultimate goal of Live To Love is to implement sustainable development strategies to build sustainable peace. Besides animal protection, the organization’s projects include education, protection of natural resources, medical care, equity promotion, and humanitarian relief.
Live To Rescue provides a dignified treatment to dogs and other animals that need urgent assistance, and thus help reduce their suffering. The activities of the organization include:
- Sterilization for stray dogs, as well as the possibility of finding a home.
- Veterinary treatment for injured or ill animals, attended by a skilled animal health professional and collaborators.
- Room for animal recovery, where shelter, food, and health services and affection are provided.
Improving the lives of animals is not the only goal of Live To Rescue. The main purpose the organization is to foster a harmonious relationship between animals and the inhabitants of the Himalayas, especially as the region face an accelerated economic and tourist development.
Animals in distress are assisted by the Kung Fu Nuns in their monastery, called Druk Amitabha Mountain (Mountain of the Dragon of Unlimited Light), located in Nepal. This monastery is used as a sanctuary for numerous ill, injured or abandoned animals that have been rescued.
The monastery houses and protects dogs, donkeys, cows goats and many other animals that receive treatment, are cured and are provided with long-term care. In addition, Kung Fu Nuns are vegetarian, which contributes to lessen the suffering of thousands of animals.
The Kung Fu Nuns as animal rescuers
We believe that all cases in which the Kung Fu Nuns have assisted animals in distress are exemplary because each case has been moved by a great compassion and effort. But we think it is worth highlighting two of the more recent cases that greatly inspire us.
Saved from the flames: the case of cows rescued from a fire
On July 11, 2017, an electric fire hit the outskirts of Katmandú, Nepal. According to the local authirities, 95 cows died and 3 survived. Upon hearing about the unfortunate news, the Kung Fu Nuns immediately arrived at the scene to assist the 3 surviving cows, that were seriously injured. The Kung Fu Nuns supported the Sneha Care animal shelter with medicines and assistance to help affected cows with their recovery needs.
Other members of the Kung Fu Nuns left the monastery at 4:00 a.m. and took a six-hour cycle ride to offer prayers in honor of the cows, according to their tradition. All members of the Kung Fu Nuns who collaborated in this activity agree that the experience of these cows was truly devastating, but they hope that with the efforts of all those who collaborated, the cows can recover their health and live a happy life.
Help in motion: Mobile Dog Clinic
The Live To Rescue's Mobile Dog Clinic provides assistance to stray dogs, many of them wounded or ill. Several inspections have been recently carried out in different areas of Kathmandu, Nepal, searching for animals in need. On June 9, 2017, the Kung Fu Nuns posted on their Facebook fanpage the they had found 4 dogs living among the rubble of a building that was affected during the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. Because of their critical health conditions, the dogs were transferred to the monastery for medical assistance. Now they are part of the nunnery family!
In honor of the Buddha’s enlightenment anniversary celebrated on June 9 by the Buddhist tradition, the Kung Fu Nuns and the Young Drukpa Association (YDA, Nepal) organized a Mobile Dog Clinic day to provide assistance to stray dogs, in which 212 were helped by receiving sterilizations and vaccines against rabies, and were provided with medicines and food, among others. Three dogs in critical conditions and six sheeps were taken to the hospital of Druk Amitabha Mountain DGK Nunnery for recovery and wound care.
What the Kung Fu Nuns teach us
The actions carried out by the Kung Fu Nuns and Live To Rescue show us that love means action, and nothing else.
Besides promoting respect, empathy and love for all species, the Kung Fu Nuns teach us an important lesson by their example: each action they perform —Kung Fu practice, meditation, animal care— is motivated to benefit all beings.
The Kung Fu Nuns demonstrate us that when we use our marvelous energy and human intelligence to benefit other beings —instead of doing so with an egocentric attitude, in which we seek intellectual and material recognition— is when we have a real opportunity to contribute and enhance global welfare, no matter how small our actions may seem.
Here’s your chance to help!!
Please upvote and resteem this post if you have been inspired by the Kung Fu Nuns work, and want to support their cause. 100% of the money we receive in SteemDollars for this publication will be donated to support the Kung Fu Nuns' initiative. You can also follow us to find more motivating stories about animal rescue and animal care.
Do you want to know more about the Kung Fu Nuns? Visit their official website at http://www.kungfununs.org or follow them on Facebook.
If you are interested in learning more about Live To Love, check out to their official website at http://www.livetolove.org or follow them on Facebook. Go to the projects section and find out about Live To Rescue activities at http://www.livetolove.org/projects/.
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