Making Choice

Tsultrim Lodro ransomed more than 70 yaks of three truckloads in Chengdo. In order to find these yaks a nice home, I made a special trip to Luoho yesterday, skipping today’s afternoon teachings.

As I neared the meat-processing factory, the sound of the yaks’ whining reached my ears. Rushing over, I learned there were 80 newly purchased yaks that had been earmarked for slaughter today and tomorrow. These yaks were lashed up tightly against one another; the carcasses of their butchered peers were littered nearby. As if sensing the same looming fate, the yaks stared at one another mutely with tearing eyes. How could I not feel heartbroken when witnessing such a devastating situation? Master Lian Chi’s saying came to my mind: “In the world, the most precious thing is life; under the sky, the gloomiest place is the slaughterhouse!”

So far this year, they have slaughtered 221 yaks, which is a significant drop from the 4,000 sheep and 3,000 yaks killed in 1995. Yet all these yaks are animate living beings! They are capable of feeling pain and pleasure just like we humans.

Yesterday morning, a number of Dharma friends, on learning that I was on the way to do lifesaving, poured in donations. More than 10,000 yuan was collected, yet this sum of money was far from enough to buy all these yaks.

I was in so much of a bind that I spent the whole evening negotiating with the owners. At length we settled on 1.6 yuan per jin of weight, plus 0.9 yuan per jin collectively for travel expenses, cold room electricity, and feed. After weighing the yaks today, a total price of 177,000 yuan emerged.

But my predicament of not having enough money forced me to bargain with them, coaxing or importuning with all kinds of reasoning, for another three to four hours. Finally an agreement was reached to drop the deal to 150,000 yuan. Although this price was on the high side for this region, the value of life is beyond the measure of money.

During the negotiations, I searched my memory, trying to recall any funds that could be mobilized. Finally I remembered a sum of money, amounting to 100,000 yuan that was offered to me by Dharma friends originally for the printing of Treasure of Sutras and Tantras and Treasure of Supreme Dharma. I am aware that I have to bear the consequences of shifting the usage of these donated funds. Yet the story of the Zen Master Yongming Yanshou has always lingered in my mind—that he bravely faced execution for his crime of taking government funds to release live beings. The master in the past has shown us excellent examples; I have absolutely no reason to hesitate.

At 4 pm, these yaks plus a few purchased at roadside, altogether 90-some of them, were being specially marked. We recited mantras and blessed them while they were on their way to ranches to live out their lives peacefully, leaving the bloody slaughterhouse behind. The crowds, witnessing this happy occasion, all rejoiced and clapped their hands cheerfully.

Although physically exhausted, we were all happy with our decisions and, in a buoyant mood, returned to the academy around 5 pm.

That night, I had a wonderful dream; I dreamt a herd of yaks came to me, paying me homage, and thanking me. I woke up feeling relaxed and ebullient; my whole body felt as fresh as a rose. Lama chen!

3rd of September, Year of RenWu
October 9, 2002