Temple devotees liberate 300,000 cockles

Kimberly Spykerman, Straits Times 5 Aug 08;

DEVOTEES of a local Buddhist temple yesterday released 300,000 shellfish into the waters off Pulau Ubin as part of a traditional practice known as animal liberation.

The rite, which is tied to the Buddhist belief in reincarnation, commonly involves the release of birds, fish and turtles.

Members of the Thekchen Choling Temple in Beatty Lane, though, chose to liberate cockles instead.

Venerable Ani Thubten Chodron said devotees chose the shellfish because they are more likely to wind up on the dinner table.

'People will not think of releasing these animals,' she said. 'They will not bother about these small lives. We release animals that people neglect. We hope that these animals will have a very good rebirth and good life after this.'

According to Buddhist lore, liberating an animal makes a positive imprint on its mind and frees it from being reborn as a lower being.

The temple community pooled together $3,000 and managed to buy two tonnes of cockles from a distributor.

'We buy cockles because they are cheaper and we can save more lives,' Venerable Chodron added.

'For example, $1 can buy us 10 cockles but one bird can already cost $2.'

Four boats, each distinguished by a colourful temple flag, carried 40 devotees and sacks of cockles to Pulau Ubin yesterday. There, a visiting Nepalese monk, Rinpoche Namgyal, together with three other temple leaders, presided over the ceremony. Prayers were recited and the sacks of cockles were blessed.

Before the sacks were emptied into the sea, symbolic gifts of incense, flowers, rice and milk were lowered into the water to create auspicious conditions for the rebirths.

The temple liberates animals every few months. The practice acts as another way for laypersons to gain merit and pave the way for a good rebirth. It is also supposed to help them succeed in earthly endeavours.

The Nepalese monk said: 'For them, this is a very good opportunity if they cannot follow strict academic ways, or go on long retreats.'

But for Mr Joshua Tan, a senior accounts manager and temple member, animal liberation is an act of selflessness.

'I hope to inspire people to have compassion and to feel for the sufferings of these beings. We also hope people will learn to respect lives,' he said.

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