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“There’s this disconnect between how things are and how we perceive things." — Ven. Robina

“We’re not suffering because our cup broke, we’re suffering because we thought it shouldn’t." — Ven. Robina

“Given that Buddha’s views are from his own direct experience, from his own observation — they not coming from on high, they’re not speculation, he didn’t make them up — he’s more like Einstein than Jesus." — Ven. Robina

“Everything we think and then do and say is the very process that produces who we become." — Ven. Robina

“The root of the problem is our powerful misconception of an intrinsic me." — Ven. Robina

“So why do you get angry? Because attachment didn’t get what it wanted." — Ven. Robina

“Attachment is a junkie that assumes that I only ever deserve the good things." — Ven. Robina

“If you look in your garden and you see a weed, you would never say “Who put a weed in my garden? I don’t deserve it!” Who planted the seeds? Who planted the weeds? Who planted the flowers? I did." — Ven. Robina

“Our life is our garden. Whatever’s in it, we put it there." — Ven. Robina

“Without understanding karma first, we can’t have proper compassion for others." — Ven. Robina

“We must have compassion for the harmers in this life, because they’ve caused themselves terrible future suffering." — Ven. Robina

“We have the power to look into our own minds, to recognize what harms us and, with enormous self respect, we can learn to change, we can learn to get rid of the neuroses. This is all Buddha is saying.” — Ven. Robina

“From Buddha’s point of view, we should be weeping in delight every day at how fortunate we are, having such an extraordinarily fortunate life, which we ourselves created by our own past actions.” — Ven. Robina

“Every microsecond of everything that goes on in our mind, and the things we do on the basis of those thoughts with our body and speech, this is the karmic process.” — Ven. Robina

“Buddha's expertise is the mind: he has a profound and extensive explanation what the mind is, how it functions and how, crucially, we can transform it.” — Ven. Robina

“Happiness is the mind that is free from attachment and the other neuroses: clear, blissful, happy and stable.” — Ven. Robina

“The main cause of my happiness, the main cause of my suffering, is in my mind.” — Ven. Robina

“Don't point to some external thing and call it samsara; point to your own mind, your own body.” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

“If no anger, then no enemy.” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

“You are the creator of yourself, honey – that’s what Buddha says.” — Ven. Robina

“We've got to distinguish facts from fiction. And when you're a buddha, you've finally got all the facts down.” — Ven. Robina

“Anger, anxiety, depression and fear break our hearts – and all Buddha is saying is: yes, sweetheart, you can change it.” — Ven. Robina

“We accept we come fully programmed into this life, but we think the programming comes from mother and father. It doesn’t, Buddha says. Our tendencies come from previous moments of that very mind itself, which is not physical and not from any external condition.” — Ven. Robina

“The mind, for the Buddha, is where things happen. The mind is where the workshop is: it’s the source of suffering and the source of happiness.” — Ven. Robina

“Any happiness you feel comes from your own mind. It is all manufactured by your own inner factory.” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

“Human beings have great potential; they can do anything. The power of the mind is incredible, limitless.” — Lama Thubten Yeshe

“Positive states of mind are natural to us. They are at the core of our being. They are what define our mind. They are what we really are.” — Ven. Robina

“When your only purpose for living is the benefit of others, it is very easy to make the right decision. It is easy because you are very clear about why you are alive." — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

“Not believing in the way things appear to us: you can't get more radical than that.” — Ven. Robina

“There’s a big difference between being able to explain religion intellectually and transforming that knowledge into spiritual experience.” — Lama Thubten Yeshe

“Buddhism is not just about one or two small things; it is not some tiny philosophy. Lord Buddha explained the nature of every single phenomenon in the universe.” — Lama Thubten Yeshe

“Without understanding, belief can be very dangerous. So what Lord Buddha emphasized was that understanding is the path to liberation, knowledge is the path to liberation.” — Lama Thubten Yeshe

“The main cause of my happiness, the main cause of my suffering, is in my mind.” — Ven. Robina

“Love is wanting another person to be happy, a delight in their happiness. Love has no strings.” — Ven. Robina

“I hope that you understand what the word 'spiritual' really means. It means to search for – to investigate – the true nature of the mind. There's nothing spiritual outside. My rosary isn't spiritual; my robes aren't spiritual. Spiritual means the mind and spiritual people are those who seek its nature.” — Lama Thubten Yeshe

“And also, to study Buddhism you don't need to believe in something extreme. It's a matter of investigating, examining and experimenting on yourself. It's not just belief.” — Lama Thubten Yeshe

“We have the power to look into our own minds, to recognize what harms us, and out of enormous self respect, we can learn to change the poison; we can learn to get rid of the neuroses. This is all Buddha is saying.” — Ven. Robina

“Every microsecond of whatever goes on in our mind, and the things we do and say on the basis of those thoughts: this is the karmic process.” — Ven. Robina

“We think happiness is what we get when attachment gets what it wants. No. Buddha says happiness is what we get when we give up attachment.” — Ven. Robina

“Positive states of mind are natural to us. They are at the core of our being. They are what define our mind. They are what we really are.” — Ven. Robina

“Not believing in the way things appear to us: you can't get more radical than that.” — Ven. Robina

“The main cause of my happiness, the main cause of my suffering, is in my mind.” — Ven. Robina

What Buddha is saying is that we have this incredible potential, if we have the courage to look inside.” — Ven. Robina

“Happiness is the mind that is free from junk: clear, blissful, happy and stable.” — Ven. Robina

“Buddha's expertise is the mind. And he has a profound, deep, extensive explanation and view of what the mind is.” — Ven. Robina

“We accept we come fully programmed into this life, but we think the programming comes from mother and father. It doesn’t, Buddha says. Tendencies in the mind come from previous moments of that very mind itself, which is not physical, and not from any external condition.” — Ven. Robina

RobinaCourtin.com

“There’s this disconnect between how things are and how we perceive things." — Ven. Robina

“We’re not suffering because our cup broke, we’re suffering because we thought it shouldn’t." — Ven. Robina

“Given that Buddha’s views are from his own direct experience, from his own observation — they not coming from on high, they’re not speculation, he didn’t make them up — he’s more like Einstein than Jesus." — Ven. Robina

“Everything we think and then do and say is the very process that produces who we become." — Ven. Robina

“The root of the problem is our powerful misconception of an intrinsic me." — Ven. Robina

“So why do you get angry? Because attachment didn’t get what it wanted." — Ven. Robina

“Attachment is a junkie that assumes that I only ever deserve the good things." — Ven. Robina

“If you look in your garden and you see a weed, you would never say “Who put a weed in my garden? I don’t deserve it!” Who planted the seeds? Who planted the weeds? Who planted the flowers? I did." — Ven. Robina

“Our life is our garden. Whatever’s in it, we put it there." — Ven. Robina

“Without understanding karma first, we can’t have proper compassion for others." — Ven. Robina

“We must have compassion for the harmers in this life, because they’ve caused themselves terrible future suffering." — Ven. Robina

“We have the power to look into our own minds, to recognize what harms us and, with enormous self respect, we can learn to change, we can learn to get rid of the neuroses. This is all Buddha is saying.” — Ven. Robina

“From Buddha’s point of view, we should be weeping in delight every day at how fortunate we are, having such an extraordinarily fortunate life, which we ourselves created by our own past actions.” — Ven. Robina

“Every microsecond of everything that goes on in our mind, and the things we do on the basis of those thoughts with our body and speech, this is the karmic process.” — Ven. Robina

“Buddha's expertise is the mind: he has a profound and extensive explanation what the mind is, how it functions and how, crucially, we can transform it.” — Ven. Robina

“Happiness is the mind that is free from attachment and the other neuroses: clear, blissful, happy and stable.” — Ven. Robina

“The main cause of my happiness, the main cause of my suffering, is in my mind.” — Ven. Robina

“Don't point to some external thing and call it samsara; point to your own mind, your own body.” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

“If no anger, then no enemy.” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

“You are the creator of yourself, honey – that’s what Buddha says.” — Ven. Robina

“We've got to distinguish facts from fiction. And when you're a buddha, you've finally got all the facts down.” — Ven. Robina

“Anger, anxiety, depression and fear break our hearts – and all Buddha is saying is: yes, sweetheart, you can change it.” — Ven. Robina

“We accept we come fully programmed into this life, but we think the programming comes from mother and father. It doesn’t, Buddha says. Our tendencies come from previous moments of that very mind itself, which is not physical and not from any external condition.” — Ven. Robina

“The mind, for the Buddha, is where things happen. The mind is where the workshop is: it’s the source of suffering and the source of happiness.” — Ven. Robina

“Any happiness you feel comes from your own mind. It is all manufactured by your own inner factory.” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

“Human beings have great potential; they can do anything. The power of the mind is incredible, limitless.” — Lama Thubten Yeshe

“Positive states of mind are natural to us. They are at the core of our being. They are what define our mind. They are what we really are.” — Ven. Robina

“When your only purpose for living is the benefit of others, it is very easy to make the right decision. It is easy because you are very clear about why you are alive." — Lama Zopa Rinpoche

“Not believing in the way things appear to us: you can't get more radical than that.” — Ven. Robina

“There’s a big difference between being able to explain religion intellectually and transforming that knowledge into spiritual experience.” — Lama Thubten Yeshe

“Buddhism is not just about one or two small things; it is not some tiny philosophy. Lord Buddha explained the nature of every single phenomenon in the universe.” — Lama Thubten Yeshe

“Without understanding, belief can be very dangerous. So what Lord Buddha emphasized was that understanding is the path to liberation, knowledge is the path to liberation.” — Lama Thubten Yeshe

“The main cause of my happiness, the main cause of my suffering, is in my mind.” — Ven. Robina

“Love is wanting another person to be happy, a delight in their happiness. Love has no strings.” — Ven. Robina

“I hope that you understand what the word 'spiritual' really means. It means to search for – to investigate – the true nature of the mind. There's nothing spiritual outside. My rosary isn't spiritual; my robes aren't spiritual. Spiritual means the mind and spiritual people are those who seek its nature.” — Lama Thubten Yeshe

“And also, to study Buddhism you don't need to believe in something extreme. It's a matter of investigating, examining and experimenting on yourself. It's not just belief.” — Lama Thubten Yeshe

“We have the power to look into our own minds, to recognize what harms us, and out of enormous self respect, we can learn to change the poison; we can learn to get rid of the neuroses. This is all Buddha is saying.” — Ven. Robina

“Every microsecond of whatever goes on in our mind, and the things we do and say on the basis of those thoughts: this is the karmic process.” — Ven. Robina

“We think happiness is what we get when attachment gets what it wants. No. Buddha says happiness is what we get when we give up attachment.” — Ven. Robina

“Positive states of mind are natural to us. They are at the core of our being. They are what define our mind. They are what we really are.” — Ven. Robina

“Not believing in the way things appear to us: you can't get more radical than that.” — Ven. Robina

“The main cause of my happiness, the main cause of my suffering, is in my mind.” — Ven. Robina

What Buddha is saying is that we have this incredible potential, if we have the courage to look inside.” — Ven. Robina

“Happiness is the mind that is free from junk: clear, blissful, happy and stable.” — Ven. Robina

“Buddha's expertise is the mind. And he has a profound, deep, extensive explanation and view of what the mind is.” — Ven. Robina

“We accept we come fully programmed into this life, but we think the programming comes from mother and father. It doesn’t, Buddha says. Tendencies in the mind come from previous moments of that very mind itself, which is not physical, and not from any external condition.” — Ven. Robina

Q & A With Robina

Each week Ven. Robina answers questions from people around the world.

How to help my dog as he gets close to death?

Jan 1, 2023

 

QUESTION

Dear Ven. Robina,

 

I am seeking an answer to a question that is troubling me.

 

I met you recently at a teaching and felt an immediate connection so I hope that you can answer.

 

I have a much-loved elderly dog who is going to surgery for suspicious lumps in his throat.

 

My problem is that I am trying to live by the five novice precepts, especially the no killing vow, but I do not want my dog to suffer in this life. 

 

So what can I do about euthanasia if the vet recommends it?

 

He sits with me during meditation and mantra chanting and I frequently say om mani padme hum throughout the day.

 

The Medicine Buddha mantra is played on a loop when he is in the house.

 

This is a question that is constantly playing on my mind the closer it gets to surgery day.

 

Thank you

G

 

ANSWER

Happy to hear from you, G.

 

Yes, it’s difficult, this one. These days most vets encourage euthanasia, because of course most of them probably don’t have the view that your darling dog will take a future life.

 

He’s already so blessed, hearing all the prayers and mantras! So so good for his mind.

 

There are a couple of things to think about.

 

1. Of course, from your side, you don’t want to do the action of killing, and that’s just for your own sake. And that’s excellent! You must want that for yourself.

 

2. But because your motivation for killing your dog would be pure – compassion to stop his suffering – you could say that even if you do kill your dog, you won’t create much negative karma, because the motivation is so important.

 

But that’s just for you. That’s for your sake.

 

3. But what about what’s best for your dog? As His Holiness the Dalai Lama says, “Compassion is not enough; we need wisdom.” We’re not clairvoyant so we simply don’t know what his mind will be like, and what karmic seed will be triggered at the time you decide to kill him, which of course means what his next life will be. 

 

It’s like playing Russian Roulette with your darling dog by stopping his life without confidence that a virtuous karmic seed has been triggered, which is what will ensure that his next life will be a good one.

 

Of course, we can’t guarantee that, no matter what, but we need to be cautious.

 

4. Ideally, the very best thing is to get him to be really comfortable, stay close to him, have prayers and mantras recited close to his ear, and allow things to take their course. This will make him so peaceful and will attract the buddhas to be right there!

 

The thing with animals, especially dogs, they’re so devoted to you and simply having you there, close to him, will make him unafraid. The mental thing is more important than the physical. If he feels safe and secure, his physical pain won’t be such a struggle for him.

 

5. And remember that every second of suffering he has is purifying his karma.

 

6. Finally, try to get past your own fear because that will cloud your judgment.

 

Just some thoughts, G.

 

What do you think?

 

Much love,

Robina

 

QUESTION

Dear Robina,

 

Once again I am encouraged and comforted by your wisdom – and thank you so very much for being very quick.

 

My dog has to have surgery on Monday but I will not be allowed to be present – I will ask the vet if she will play the Medicine Buddha mantra while he is in her care. The vet is a very compassionate person and I can but try.

 

Thank you again Robina. I find myself wishing I had given you a big hug at the teachings; much restraint required on my part!

 

G

 

ANSWER

Good, G.

 

Just to be clear, how are you interpreting my advice? From your answer, I’m not quite sure.

 

Love,

Robina

 

QUESTION

Hello again Robina,

 

Regarding your points:

 

1. Of course, from your side, you don’t want to do the action of killing, and that’s just for your own sake. And that’s excellent! You must want that for yourself.

 

Yes, for my own sake, I definitely don’t want to be the cause of killing him.

 

2. But because your motivation for killing your dog would be pure — compassion to stop his suffering — you could say that even if you do kill your dog, you won’t create much negative karma, because the motivation is so important.

 

Yes, for my own sake, I definitely don’t want to be the cause of killing him.

 

3. What about what’s best for your dog? We’re not clairvoyant so we simply don’t know what his mind will be like, and what karmic seed will be triggered at the time you decide to kill him.

 

It’s just as well that we’re not clairvoyant.

 

4. Ideally, the very best thing is to get him to be really comfortable, stay close to him, have prayers and mantras recited close to his ear, and allow things to take their course. This will make him so peaceful and will attract the buddhas to be right there!

 

The thing with animals, especially dogs, they’re so devoted to you and simply having you there, close to him, will make him unafraid. The mental thing is more important than the physical. If he feels safe and secure, his physical pain won’t be such a struggle for him.

 

I understand that having helped quite a few animals pass peacefully before I began studying Buddhism. Now I need to add in the mantras and so forth.

 

5. And remember that every second of suffering he has is purifying his karma.

 

Oh, I forgot about that! I think I’m too weak to be able to allow suffering to the end and I hate to think what my partner would have to say about it. The power of my convictions is so very small.

 

6. Finally, try to get past your own fear because that will cloud your judgment.

 

Now that’s a really hard part. Am I frightened of living without a dog in my life? Am I afraid of causing bad karma for myself? or for future suffering for both of us?

 

I wonder if the distress that grips me at this time is due to attachment rather than simple affection – and what can I do about it?

 

That’s something I’ll have to address myself, I think. As you say, we cannot know.

 

G

 

ANSWER

Very clear, dearest G.

 

Be brave. Don’t expect the worst. Your loving him and taking care of him and saying mantras will soothe him, calm him.

 

Yes, for sure, our attachment and fears play a big role. So do your best.

 

Don’t make plans. Take it one step at a time and adjust to the situation as it unfolds.

 

Keep me in touch as time goes by.

 

Be brave!

 

Much love,

Robina

 

QUESTION

Robina, thank you!

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