Saving the Lives of Animals

Buddhists of all nations and traditions practice life liberation, or, the saving of animals from imminent slaughter. In Tibet, this practice is imbedded in the culture so strongly that animals can be seen everywhere with colorful yarn hanging from their ears, marking them as “saved” for life. The animals are then cared for by a family or monastery, and continue to provide milk and hair or wool for their keepers.

Buddhism teaches that taking the compassionate action of saving beings from death creates such positivity as to clear obstacles, heal, and purify karma for the one who is requesting the liberation, as well as for others to whom this practice is dedicated, in this life or after death.

From across the world, anyone can request that a life is saved through Kilung Monastery’s efforts. Yaks, sheep, or goats are purchased from slaughter, or less dramatically, through an arrangement with a family who promises not to kill the animal for life. Family arrangements are less costly than intervening at the time of slaughter. Whatever the choices, saving an animal from imminent death has the most powerful effect.

After the animals are identified and saved, the monks and lamas gather with the animals for a blessing ceremony that dedicates this meritorious action for the benefit and happiness of all involved, and extending it outward, to all the beings of the universe.

Kilung Monastery and community created a life release farm just for this purpose in 2008. This has been enormously inspirational for Kilung community and monastery, as it supports this very common practice in the area. The farm is run by two families whose livestock were few, and could use the opportunity to build up their herds. Animals that have been liberated are given to Kilung Monastery, who in turn give the animals to the farms for caretaking. The milk products and offspring are shared between the monastery and the families.

This yak was saved from slaughter by an American Buddhist friend of the Kilung Foundation. The yak even got a name: Todkar.

Costs of saving an animal (2008 prices, which fluctuate):

To save an animal from imminent slaughter

Yak – $440
Sheep – $95
goat – $60

Life-saving arranged with a Kilung family
Yak – $60
Sheep – $22
Goat – $15

Another very easy-to-arrange option is to donate partial cost toward the release of an animal.

 

Instructions to request an animal’s liberation... Calculate the cost for the animal or animals to be saved. Send us this information by email or phone Your name Your e-mail or phone number First and last name of person for whom to dedicate Type of animal (yak, sheep, goat) Quantity of animals Let us know if saving from imminent slaughter, or making arrangements with a Kilung family Or, if you want to donate a portion toward saving an animal, just let us know. Let us know how much you are sending Send the amount by one of the following options: Or Or send us a check

All different kinds of animals are saved in different places around the world, including insects, birds, and fish. Here Kilung Jigme Rinpoche conducted a large life release ceremony of fish for Chinese Buddhists. The fish were freed into a large river near Chengdu, Sichuan Province.