Allow & Accept

16 Dec 2025

November & December are pensive times for me. This is because the big move from one place to another & settling in with my cats & dog happened during these times.

Accepting what’s given in the Bowl of Life with the help of Wisdom.

I had lots of anxieties over my animals’ safety because of high floor living and worries over neighbours’ reactions if they made noise. Thankfully, my fears were unfounded.

My dog passed in 2014. The last of my cats passed in 2023.

It took me a few years to discard my dog’s health supplements because his name was on the label. I had to finally accept that he was never coming back.

Only last month, I decided to let my cats’ pain meds & insulin go. Their names were also on the labels.

Oliver, the last of 12 cats to leave me.

Only last month I decided to allow the tattered sofa which had hosted many human celebrations & animal passings to leave. Its base was disintegrating.

As soon as my mind stopped clinging to what couldn’t be fixed, it became open to new possibilities. A set of furniture with dimensions suited to my needs & with aesthetics far beyond my imagination was gifted to me. 🙏

In the blessed corner where my animals sat, played & passed on is now this beautiful antique chair & red cherries.

And last night, the TV that had refused to work since 2023, was finally replaced.

Ganesha mantra to consecrate the new tv.

I was the last on the delivery man’s route and the rain had caused further delays.

Despite his fatigue, the TV installation worker asked me to relax, while he checked if the old bracket could hold the new TV. It turned out everything had to be new.

He helped me get started on google tv, and assured me that I could follow the prompts.

After taking a sip of the drinking water I offered him, the deliverer of television added, “Don’t worry. Just Allow and Accept.”

Looking back, had I allowed & accepted my limp & its ensuing struggles earlier in my youth, I might have been more articulate about them and be less anxious in my adult life.

So by the power of my unnecessary suffering, may I wish all sentient beings the discernment & trust to allow & accept when needed, so that we don’t have to live in fear & sadness. 🙏🪷😊

Himalayan Gold

(In Memory of a Very Brave Community Cat)

27-May-2025 (New Moon)

Today is New Moon. It’s also Day 7 since the passing of Topaz, the last member of a school community cat project that began in 2007.

In all of his 18 years, Topaz lived by his own terms. He accepted food, water & treats, but would disappear for days if anyone tried to get close to him.

Topaz looks on defiantly as his then hiding place was discovered.

As he aged & health issues surfaced, worries over his safety & where he might hide increased. Having lost their mother when he was a kitten & later on his litter mates & cat buddies to dogs & traffic accidents, Topaz was the ultimate survivor.

But even heroes need to rest. Last week, with prayer support from well wishers across the world & help from his feeders, Topaz finally allowed himself to be taken to the vet & then to home palliative care.

A touch that took 18 years to happen. Caregivers who fed Topaz & went around the school compound calling for him whenever he didn’t show up for his meals.

He spent the last few days of his life without fear, leaning his lovely leonine head towards his feeders’ palms when they stroked him for the first time.

Pain relief to ease Topaz’s final journey.

After he had breathed his last, Topaz was carefully brushed, blessed & wrapped in cloths bearing auspicious symbols.

On the paperwork for his final transformation, I wrote, “Himalayan” for his breed & “Gold” for his colour.

This little cat will forever be associated with the mountains for his will to live & his love for freedom, and the Light he continues to cast on the lives of many who remember him.

In the quiet sadness, the crematorium room was also charged with peace & grace as multi-faith prayers & blessings were recited over Topaz.

Finally an abundant life is not just about length, but also about love. And I think Topaz has both. ♥️🙏

A life that began in fear & loss has ended in love & peace.

Contemplative Tuesday:In Praise of Black on *Chokor Duchen

9-7-24

Today at the Metta Cats & Dogs Sanctuary, Tam Tam the black cat came trotting to me when called. He hopped onto the bench I was sitting on and stood up on his hind legs so that he could put his face against mine.

No spectacle obstacle can keep off Tam Tam’s tenacious tenderness.

I wasn’t holding out any treats. We hadn’t met since March.

It takes some effort for a 4 legged animal to go on 2 legged so that he can put his paws on your shoulder.

The vilifications of black coated animals have caused much sufferings to them and even justify their abuse.

Yet Tam Tam’s blackness provides a contrast for his lighter coated siblings to be seen. He has also learnt to recede quietly into the background when he’s not called.

Tam Tam carries a colour that is both kind & generous. For black can cover a multitude of flaws when they’re not ready to be overcome. And black also provides the backdrop that allows other colours to shine.

While interacting with other cats, I’ve caught this ebony boy just sitting like a statue & watching me with his loving yellow eyes.

In my understanding, good luck or bad luck, auspicious or not, may depend on the size of our heart & the depth of our mind. A small heart amplifies a threat while a narrow mind multiplies a flaw.

Today is also Chokor Duchen a Tibetan Buddhist Festival that celebrates Buddha’s first teachings.

May we cultivate our heart & mind so that bad luck can turn good, & obstacles can become opportunities, for our benefit & the benefit of all sentient beings.🙏♥️

1 January 2024

Today is New Year’s Day. It also marks the end of the mourning period for my oldest cat, Oliver. He passed on 49 days ago at age 20.

My dear Oliver, may you receive love & cuddles wherever you go.

In Buddhist beliefs, the soul of the deceased is reborn by the 49th day.

I hope one day I will see all my pets again. This is the first time in 25 years that I do not have an animal in my home.

Becoming a Lotus

28-12-23

“Let nothing dim our light.” Pema reminds me.

“Please give Pema a hug for me!” My friend, Sharonne, texted when my trip to Nepal was finalised. Pema is the name of her sponsored shelter dog.

Pema means Lotus Flower in Tibetan. Although rooted in mud, the Lotus rises from its murky surroundings without carrying a trace of dirt.

Hence, the Lotus in eastern spirituality has become a symbol of rising above challenges while remaining free from defilements.

At our recent shelter visit to Street Dog Care, we were greeted by dogs that embodied the spirit of the Lotus.

Despite having suffered from human abuse and neglect, they came prancing towards us like we were their best friends.

To avoid getting knocked over by wave after wave of canine affection, I had to quickly sit on a little mound of soil upon entering the shelter.

Dancing at our feet in anticipation, each dog was vying for the chance to pull us into their earthy embrace.

Laughing humans, smiling dogs and swirling dust … what an absolute chaos but oh so delightful!

Earthy hugs that lifted my sadness of losing my cats Emmanuel and Oliver this September and November respectively.

Rocky had an acid wound that was deep & red, but he offered his face and looked at me with the kindest eyes as I spoke to him. Could this dog be anymore aggressive as his abuser claimed?

Rocky’s was wounded but his kindness remains.

Rocky snuggling with vet, Dr Bikesh. Can this dog get any more aggressive as claimed by the person who poured acid on him?

Then there was one who pedalled frantically on two front legs to welcome us. He was probably a survivor of motor traffic or birth defect. Marcus quickly went over to receive his greetings to show the beige angel that he was not overlooked.

Marcus makes sure the paraplegic dog knows he is loved.

We couldn’t finish walking the length of the shelter without getting greeted, kissed or hugged by dogs.

Rough sleeping on the streets and not having ready access to cleaning did not defile the purity of these canine beings one bit.

On our ride back from the shelter in our little taxi, I was beaming from ear to ear. Mud splattered and in my down jacket punctured by canine attempts to hug me, I felt cleansed of all sadness by the Lotuses in the dog shelter.

Pema is my friend, Sharonne’s sponsored shelter dog.

The Birth of Kindness

26-12-23 (Boxing Day)

Handmade shelter for a community cat in one of the neighbourhoods in Singapore. (Source: FB post Dec 2023)

One Christmas Eve many years ago, I passed by 3 or 4 dogs seeking shelter from the on off day long rain under the void deck of abandoned flats.

By the time I bought dog food and aluminium trays from the supermarket to go to their aid, the dogs had disappeared.

A slight panic descended as darkness deepened in the deserted premise where I stood. Held down by trays of opened canned food, there was not much I could do. The drizzle was also gathering force.

“Miss Ong, what are you doing here?”

I looked up to see two smiling boys. They introduced themselves as SJI boys.

More than 20 years after the Christmas Eve Dog Feeding Encounter, I would be travelling to Nepal in Dec 2023 with Marcus Tan. Besides letting me hold onto his arm for balance when I walk on uneven grounds, this SJI boy also stops for animals. (Dec 2023)

Despite having no memory of seeing them in school, I told them what I was trying to do.

Without hesitation, they took the food offerings from me, and headed to the bus stop where they said they saw the dogs.

After they returned from their act of kindness where the dogs gobbled up everything in a flash, the boys and I held hands in the rain and gave thanks.

Those were the days of pre-social media. I had scant knowledge of helping homeless animals.

And had I let my physical condition, the inclement weather, and the darkness convince me to ignore the dogs’ hunger, I wouldn’t have met these two boys whom I believe to be angels in disguise. 😊❤️

And as the years pile on, the seemingly mundane, “Miss Ong, what are you doing Here?” has become a question of transcendental importance to me.

So in the spirit of Boxing Day as we put away present wrappers, and tidy up our surroundings, here’s wishing everyone increasing clarity to what we’re doing with our life & gifts. 🙏

Rocky, the survivor of acid attack came to welcome me. (Street Dog Care, Nepal, 11 Dec 2023)

December

19-12-23

Poinsettias in full bloom in Park Village, Budanilkanta, Nepal.
(7Dec 2023)

In my youth December meant holiday jobs to make some money for personal outings & school supplies.

There was always some anxieties whether my limp would be an issue with the employer or labour laws.

December in my late teens & early twenties meant carolling rehearsals and admiring well dressed people who had invited us to sing in their beautiful homes on Christmas Eve.

Only in my 30s, December became a time of looking inward at who I really am. Living with 12 cats & 1 dog assures me that I am home. There’s no need to go outside to seek amusement or approval.

I adopted my first and only dog, Shoya, when I was 35 years old.

After my dog passed on in December 2014, and my cats slowly left me one by one, December becomes a time to rest & remininsce.

And whenever I get the chance to visit Boudha Stupa, I bring my animals with me. In my walks, I thank them for taking on animal forms to teach me what it means to be human.

Showing Shoya the Boudha Stupa at every chance I could since 2016)

This December as I stood still by windows & on terraces, I witnessed wedding celebrations in Budanilkantha, an engagement party in Nagarkot, cultural performances and devotional practices in Boudha.

On the balcony of Hotel Country Villa in Nagarkot Hills, Nepal. (10Dec 2023)

In the midst of music, singing & chanting my spirit lifted as my animals & I received the auspicious vibes generated by these celebrations.

Butter lamp circumabulation at Boudha Stupa.

December is truly an ending & also a beginning. 🙏😊

Because they can’t talk, I learn to listen better.

16 November 2023

My 20-year-old cat, Oliver died on the 50th day of the passing of his buddy, Emmanuel. Emmanuel was 19.

Through their lives, these 2 cats have given me 39 years’ worth of companionship and teachings on living & dying.

Because they can’t talk, I learn to listen to their needs by watching their eyes, facial expressions and body language.

Oliver listens to Saraswati Mantra with me.

Because they can’t talk, and can’t defend themselves verbally, I learn to listen to myself before my judgement becomes my reality.

Emmanuel is always protected by Mother Mary.

And because they can’t talk, I learn to make supplications on their behalf.

Took my boys to see the Boudha Stupa this December.

The late Lama Zopa Rinpoche taught that animals don’t just come to us for food & shelter.

Indeed.

As Emmanuel needed home treatment involving needles that I fear and my stiff fingers are not of much help, I started listening to the Medicine Buddha Mantra to overcome fear and steady my hands.

At Kopan Gompa on 12/12/23 to give thanks to late Lama Zopa from whom I’m learning to care for animals beyond their material needs.

As Oliver liked to stay on my lap to listen to devotional chanting or singing, I learned to be still like him and let the words sink in. This was also how my longest living cat left his body.

Until last year, Oliver & Emmanuel had never fallen ill. Unwell animals disguise their pains & injuries to avoid evoking the predatory instincts of the healthy ones. But I also believe my cats endured their illnesses so that I may evolve spiritually.

The quiet in my flat now seems to hold the mantras & music we have listened together over the years.

So on Oliver and Emmanuel’s behalf I wish to thank everyone who has ever smiled at or said kind words to those who cannot talk. In a broken world, any speech made with the intention to heal is sacred to the listener.

Blessings of Light on Oliver. This was our 20th Deepavali together. The next day he entered a good death.

Life ends, but blessings bestowed are forever.

Thank you, friends and all. ❤️🙏

October 4

4-10-23

Oct 4 is the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi and World Animal Day.

The stories & prayers of St Francis where he mediated on behalf of a wolf and addressed all natural elements as brothers & sisters resonated deeply with me.

Through him I learnt that for good to manifest, every intention needs to come from a place of peace & humility, not judgement.

One of the privileges of being born human is the ability to comfort another being. On our way to Metta Cat & Dog Sanctuary, we always stop by to greet the cats of Mdm Wong’s Shelter.

Since 2007, I’ve been trying to observe 4 Oct by doing something special related to him & animals.

Marcus being greeted by Wednesday on World Animal Day morning. (Metta Cat & Dog Sanctuary)

Today I feel blessed to spend time at an animal shelter and to light butter lamps at a tibetan buddhist temple.

As the day draws to a close and with Krishna Das’ chants filling up my living space, may I return this favour that has been so generously bestowed on me, by wishing everyone the Peace of St Francis of Assisi and Kindness to Self & All Animal Beings. ❤️🙏😊

May these lamps illuminate all sentient beings so that they may transcend suffering & death, and find peace.

Never Too Late

6 Sep 2023

The Tibetan Book of Living & Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche.

My first copy of “The Tibetan Book of Living & Dying,” came from Borders the Bookshop at Wheelock Place. I bought it out of curiosity.

I had what I called “reader’s block,” and gave the book away in 2012. My inability or refusal to accept then that life ends despite our best efforts probably kept me from receiving the guidance in the book.

Over the years, the passing of 10 cats and 1 dog in my care, and the gruesome deaths of cherished community cats from dog attacks have eroded my state of denial. Death is just round the corner.

And with Emmanuel & Oliver’s deteriorating health, I’ll be witnessing death for the 11th & 12th time.

They are my longest living cats. I need to be better prepared for their passing so as to do justice to their companionship of 18 years.

So last week I ordered a copy of “The Tibetan Book of Living & Dying,” after assessing my receptivity to it via Libby APP.

Today as First Tutee and Granduncle came to see Oliver and pray over him, the book also arrived. 🙏❤️😊

First Tutee sees Oliver as his First Cat. They met in 2017.

So every thing has its timing. What we cannot understand or refuse to understand will make sense at some point. And friends who live in our thoughts will appear at the right time when needed.

And I cannot ask for a better alignment of intention, needs and spiritual aid like the one I had today. 🙏🪔