The Love of Animals

An Earnest and Warm-hearted Dog - Big Yellow

In the autumn of 1969, I was sent to the countryside and was left all alone in the dormitory on a farm. I could not go home as often as other schoolmates because I needed to earn more work-points to help my family that was in financial difficulty. As a young girl between seventeen and eighteen, I felt very lonely and helpless, being the only one staying in the five big empty houses. Fortunately, the farm manager was keeping a big yellow dog at his house, who often kept me company. The dog had shiny yellow fur and was not only very beautiful, but also very understanding. We used to call him “Big Yellow”. He seemed to be able to read my feelings. When I was happy, he would dance and leap around me; when I was sad, he would sit quietly by my side. Sometimes, when I came back from work, he would run a long distance to greet me. In leisure times, I would chat and play with him. Big Yellow gave me much mental comfort helping me get through that difficult period.

The most touching moment happened on the day I went home by train. Our dorm was more than 30 kilometers from the railway station, yet Big Yellow walked me all the way to the station. I squatted down to caress him and bid him farewell, but he refused to leave. After I boarded the train, Big Yellow still gazed at me silently. When the train started to move, I leaned on the window waved my hands, and told him to go home. But Big Yellow started to run after the train. As the train moved faster and faster, Big Yellow chased it faster. Finally, Big Yellow's silhouette gradually diminished in the distance. Tears rolled down my cheeks. How I longed to jump off the train and go back to Big Yellow! I was deeply touched. I knew animals have feelings, but I never expected that Big Yellow would be such a passionate friend.

More than three decades have passed, but that touching scene is still vivid in my mind. I often tell this story to my children to let them understand that "animals are good friends of humans", and to recognize the sincerity and benevolence of the animals.

The Return of the Lost Cat - Little Flower

When my daughter was twelve years old, one day she picked up a stray kitten on the street and ran home delightedly yelling: "Mom! Look how lovely it is. Let us keep it!" I stopped what I was doing and turned around. I saw a newborn kitten resting in my daughter’s little hands. It had big round eyes and a tiny mouth, covered with silky fur with white and yellow stripes. It was extremely beautiful, just like a tiny and exquisite piece of handicraft made by God! I was enchanted by the kitten's eyes which seemed to beg me to keep it. Since then, we have had one more family member, and my daughter named her Little Flower.

One day, Little Flower, when she was four years old, went missing, putting our whole family in anguish. We searched for her everywhere, while my daughter cried all day long. Several days went by without any news about Little Flower's whereabouts. When we began to lose hope, my daughter's aunt came to our house and told us that she dreamt of Little Flower’s return. My daughter immediately opened the door, waiting for the miracle to occur. At about six o'clock in the morning, Little Flower dashed in like crazy, covered with dust; she had also lost a lot of weight. After entering, she ran around the whole house for one time and then she swiftly climbed the ladder to the bunk bed and threw herself into the arms of my daughter. She was just like a lost child who had found her mother. Our whole family was overjoyed and each one hugged and kissed Little Flower lovingly. Little Flower stayed with my daughter refusing to move even one step away. Since then we also cherish this cute little cat even more. She keeps us company day and night and gives us a lot more comfort and fun. Each time we communicate with Little Flower, either spiritually or emotionally, we deeply realize Master's words: "Animals and humans are equal. They are identical to us."