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Nigel's Meow-sings

Cat Poem

Landlocked in Fur

I was meditating with my cat the other day
and all of the sudden she shouted,
"What happened?"

I knew exactly what she meant, but encouraged
her to say more--- feeling that if she got it all out on the table
she would sleep better at night.

So I responded, "Tell me more my dear."
and she soulfully meowed,

"Well, I was mingled with the sky. I was comets
whizzing here and there. I was suns in heat, hell---I was
galaxies. But now look--- I am
landlocked in fur."

To this I said, "I know exactly what
you mean>"

What to say about conversations
between

mystics?

by Turkaram (c. 1608-1649)

Good prayers for animals

A prayer by Dostoevsky

Lord, may we love all your creation,
all the earth and every grain of sand in it.
May we love every leaf, every ray of your light.

May we love the animals;
you have given them the rudiments of
thought and joy untroubled.
Let us not trouble it;
let us not harass them,
let us not deprive them of their happiness,
let us not work against your intent.

For we acknowledge that unto you all that is
like an ocean, all is flowing and blending,
and that to withhold any measure of love
from anything in your universe
is to withhold that same measure from you.
Amen

Fyodor Dostoevsky

O God, enlarge within us the sense of fellowship with all living things, our brothers (and sisters ) the animals to whom you gave the earth as their home in common with us.

We remember with shame that in the past we have exercised the high dominion of man with ruthless cruelty so that the voice of the
earth, which should have gone up to you in song, has been a groan of travail. May we realize that they live not for us alone but for themselves and for you, and that they love the sweetness of life.
Amen
St. Basil