Q: Dear Master Lu, my cat that had been with me for the past 12 years has just passed away. I buried it in my yard along with Buddhist sutras. Is this alright?
A:
- It is never a good idea to bury bodies in or near your home, whether it be dogs, cats or humans. It is best to take the body out from your yard, and bury it somewhere else. You should also recite the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra for the cat to help it ascend to a higher spiritual realm.
- Buddhist sutras and mantras are sacred; they must not be buried or burnt. Such action is extremely disrespectful to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and constitutes a major offence. You need to recite the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance 21 times to sincerely repent of your wrongdoings. Committing such wrongdoings will bring bad luck.