QUESTION
Dearest Venerable,
If it is possible I’d like to request advice.
Beside our front door there is a crevice that yellowjackets have inhabited inside the wall. I made the mistake of thinking they were native docile bees but now I see that they’re not.
The only way to remove them is extermination but I have taken a vow of non-killing and they are mother sentient beings whose benefit and happiness are my responsibility.
It is my partner’s house and many people say they are a serious danger and safety risk. We are not using the front door and will warn the mailman to avoid the area.
My partner thinks the only solution in this case is to call an expert and let them decide.
Please let me know if it is possible to receive any guidance on this.
With love,
H
ANSWER
Dearest H:
Your attitude is wonderful! Continue to have the sincere wish not to harm beings.
I agree: call the appropriate people and see what they say. Perhaps there’s a method whereby they can force the creatures out and then collect them and then release them into an open area.
You can say prayers for the creatures, such as Medicine Buddha.
What do you think?
Love,
Robina
QUESTION
Most kind one, Venerable Robina!
Your advice means the world to me. Thank you. I’ve treasured your teachings like a wish-granting jewel. They’ve been a great benefit to me and countless others.
Someone came to spray the opening beside the door, and it was quiet for a while. I managed to safely release a couple of wasps who came through the light fixtures inside the house, and I took one of them around the stupa on the table first.
Following your message, I also requested Medicine Buddha prayers and made an offering to Kopan. I feel very sad and filled with regret that the wasps were killed.
As I was about to patch the hole today to prevent future nesting, more wasps began showing up. To deter them and encourage them to move to a safer location, I am trying several methods that have worked for others.
I set up wind chimes just above the hole, since they dislike movement and noise, and I tapped with a mallet on the opposite wall from inside the house while playing Lama Zopa’s Om Mani Padme Hum and Medicine Buddha mantras for them. I have also placed lemon juice next to the hole, as they dislike citrus. There are mani stones that I hope they touch or fly over.
I sincerely hope they move on safely soon. I also strongly wish to take on any negative karma that would result for the person who sprayed and for my partner who requested it. All of this was caused by my untrained mind. I see how little wisdom I possess and how many problems I create.
As always, my heartfelt wishes for all your holy Dharma aspirations to be accomplished as quickly as possible.
With love,
H
ANSWER
Wow, H — lucky yellowjackets! Such blessings.
The other thing that helps is, given that we meet sentient beings whom we’ve harmed or helped before, doing the purification practice can help change things.
REGRET the harm you’ve done in the past to them — for your own sake, because you don’t want further suffering.
RELY upon the Vajrasattva, whose method you use to purify. Then have COMPASSION for the creatures.
Apply the REMEDY by doing the Vajrasattva mantra and visualizing purifying all the negative karma.
RESOLVE not to do again.
Regret in particular purifies the karma called experiences similar to the cause, which is your past harming of them. So don’t be surprised if they go away!
Love,
Robina