Medogtation

Meditation with a dog incorporated.

This may sound like a new word but perhaps dog lovers who also practice meditation might have already though of the combination of meditation with a dog in the picture.

Avid meditation practitioners may think that medogtation is something farfetched because meditation means to quiet the mind and dogs are just not quiet creatures. Perhaps mecatation is more doable. My mind seems to run wild today churning out random words as I go. These words may not be in any dictionary around the world but it sure means something to someone out there.

Thanks to my ever faithful dog. He was born special. Everyone looks at him and compliment he is such an adorable German Shepherd puppy. I would just thank any strangers we meet with a smile. As for closer friends, they would have already been told his story.

Our little German Shepherd puppy started off with a life like some of the strays we find around us. He was born to a family and raised by his mother for the first few months. Then, they are separated. We do not know about his siblings, we only know about him. He was a gift from a friend to another family. After a while, the family decided that they do not want to keep him anymore because of his fearless character. They are worried that they cannot handle him and that their other pedigree may be harmed by him. He ended up being left alone to fend for himself in the streets at merely four months’ old.

Being a playful puppy, children around the area came to play with him every morning before school and every evening after school. He became lonely throughout the day and so the thought all humans are great. Soon enough, he began to realize that there are the not so great humans around who would throw sticks and rocks at him when all he wanted was to get someone to play with him.

He went on to make friends with others of his kind. Nobody accepted him and even bullied him to the point that he was almost torn of character. He finally met with one dog that accepted him as friend. This friend taught him the ways to fend for himself and also the nuisance acts. He learnt to destroy plants and dug holes everywhere. He created a mess everywhere he went. He was infested with ticks and fleas. He was an all but nice version of a puppy.

At this point, my family members suddenly gave approval of me keeping him as a guard dog. He is finally free from harm from the outside world. He marked his territory all over our porch. He chewed on everything he could reach. He dug numerous holes in the soil and covered himself in dirt all the time. He was a nuisance. He was a six months’ old puppy.

Now, at four, he is a darling of the whole household. He still looks like a puppy because of his size. We think that he may be a German Shepherd mix or a dwarf because he looks and acts like one, loyal to one master. Whatever his breed, he is still our gem. He looks us in the eyes and tries to comprehend our language. He would go all out to protect his territory and his family. He chose his little brother from the various rescue puppies we brought forward to him. He would groom himself like a cat before getting into bed. He showers us with boundless love every single day. He waits for us to come home. He misses us each time we walk out of the house. He shows his affection every time we are home.

This morning, as I was having my alone meditation time, he jumped on the bed and lay quietly by me while I meditate. This is how the word medogtation is born.

I find it hard to believe that our four year old rescue with such active movements and strong character would be so still while I meditate. He made me feel like he is in sync with me. He even ignored distractions from passing by strays. He is trying his best to be human. He is my son.

The world is changing now. We can be a part that makes it better by lending a helping hand to those in need. There are many shelters out there that require help. There are many strays out there that require rescuing. We need not give them a home or feed them, by just not harming them, we are already doing our part to create a harmonious environment for all. Our family opened our arms to one, and now we have two gems in our life. We wanted to rescue more but we would also have to abide by the law of two dogs in one household.

Adopt, don’t shop!

 

Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation, and almost as good for the soul as prayer.    

Dean Ray Koontz (Dean Koontz), American author, 1945-present