DJ's Picture

As I was mourning the sudden and unexpected loss of my precious pet parakeet, DJ, I had the presence of mind to place him in the arms of our livingroom Buddha statue, and take his last photographs.

DJ had been an exquisite looking bird. His feathers were a brilliant, almost flourescent turquoise and white. His eyes sparkled with the very excitement of being alive. He knew he was a beauty and loved having his picture taken. He enjoyed sitting very still whenever I took his picture. His favorite posing place was amidst a huge bouquet of pink and white silk flowers. He loved to play peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek in this bouquet, looking out as if no one could really see him.

My first night without DJ was the most difficult. I allowed his body to rest in the Buddha’s arms while I tried to sleep. When the morning finally came, I laid in bed feeling terrible. I didn’t want to get up.

Suddenly I heard DJ’s little voice say with excitement, “Mommy, come look at my picture!”

I got out of bed and walked over to the Buddha statue. There was little DJ’s body, just as I had left it. I noticed the blue sear above his nose had turned a bit darker.

“Mommy, this isn’t me. This is my picture!” DJ explained.

Such profound words from such a tiny sweet bird. I was truly taken aback. I stood looking at his "picture," speechless.

“Yes,” I finally answered, “this is your picture, DJ....it isn’t you.”

“Hurry up, Mommy, you need to put my picture in the box and bury it before yukky stuff gets on it. You wouldn’t like to see me like that,” he said.

So as the afternoon moved into early evening, my husband brought home a brand new camera with a zoom lens. He and I took our last shots of DJ.

Then I lovingly wrapped his soft little body in a silk Tibetan scarf called a “katak,” and placed it in the box with a photograph of my husband and myself.

My husband graciously dug a big hole in the backyard next to the hot tub, and he covered the little box with soil. Next, a Medicine Buddha statue was placed on the site. We lit some candles, said some blessings and prayers, and left.

DJ came on inside with us, to eat dinner, chitchatting in my ear about a thousand and one exciting things.

His “picture” had been buried.

(Note to reader : DJ was later cremated and his ashes are kept in a beautiful wooden box with his name engraved on a brass plaque.)

MEDICINE BUDDHA MANTRA:
“Tayatha Om Benkandzay Benkandzay Maha Benkandzay Benkandzay Radza Samudgate Soha .”
Medicine Buudha mantra is the one we can say for healing both ourselves and others. One other benefit of this mantra is giving liberation to those leaving the body. If we repeat this mantra 7 times and blow on the person, animal, or insect, Medicine Buddha guarantees them liberation. If you happen to eat meat and say this blessing over it before you eat, this blesses the animal, removes all their negative karmas, and gives them liberation from cyclic existence.
I believe ANYONE can say mantras, regardless of their religion or belief system. And one's use of mantra needn't be serious, nor too complicated. Even a young child can learn this simple process of wishing kindness for others.
I use this mantra in as many creative ways as possible. I say it as I watch the evening news, and blow toward the TV, praying for World Peace, help, and healing for those who are injured, suffering, or leaving the body, and for the Healing of Planet Earth. I say it whenever I enter a supermarket, to bless all the meat. This benefits not only the animals, but also those who eat the meat. Also, whenever an ambulance passes,or I see a dead animal by the side of the road, or hear of a person or pet which has passed.
So it gives us an opportunity to 'help.' It gives us what the Dalai Lama calls "A Kind Heart." And I truly believe we can become creative with mantras, to fit our own life situations. This can even become 'fun.'

A fun way to learn mantras, I have found, is to hear them sung. I find that when I listen to recorded mantras, my whole home becomes filed with a soft meditative energy. Everything calms down. This mantra is available on a beautiful CD created by Deva Premal, called EMBRACE. DJ tremendously enjoyed her music.

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